![]() ![]() ![]() Studies in the role of bumble bees ( Bombus spp.) in fruit tree pollination. Journal of Economic Entomology 94:462-467. Bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) activity and pollination levels in commercial tomato greenhouses. Morandin, L.A., Laverty, T.M., & Kevan, P.G. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Ontario 122:15-19. Pollination of greenhouse tomatoes by bumble bees in Ontario. Kevan, P.G., Straver, W.A., Offer, M., & Laverty, T.M. See Vendors – Managed Pollinators under More Information. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees are quite willing to forage in the still and humid greenhouse air and do not become disoriented in greenhouse conditions. So far, the greatest commercial success with bumble bee pollination has been in greenhouse tomatoes and sweet peppers. This includes tree fruits that bloom in early spring when it is still too cold for honey bees, and crops that require "buzz” pollination (see box). Due to wise regulations against importation of bumble bees from outside their native range, other species are not available.Ī Bombus impatiens colony (photo by Stephen Marshall)Ĭommercial bumble bee providers have manipulated the bumble bee colony life cycle using indoor rearing and husbandry to make mature colonies continuously available to customers throughout the entire greenhouse growing season.īumble bees have either been used successfully or show promise for commercial pollination in several outdoor crops. In the spring, the process begins again.Ī commercial bumble bee industry (using the common eastern bumble bee- Bombus impatiens) is now fully established in Ontario, especially for the pollination of greenhouse crops. The founding queen dies in the fall, and only the young, newly mated queens hibernate over the winter. At this point, the mated queens disperse and social structure of the original colony begins to break down. When the colony reaches sufficient size, the next generation of reproductive queens and males is produced and mating occurs. Workers take over foraging, cell-building, and tending the young. ![]() The queen then remains in the nest and focuses on egg-laying. In the wild, the mated queen emerges in the spring, finds a suitable nesting site, and raises the first brood of workers by herself. Nectar is only stored temporarily, because only mated queens overwinter. They work under cooler and damper conditions than honey bees.īumble bees do not produce significant quantities of honey. Literature: Borror et al.1989 Hamman 1980.Bumble bee colonies are much smaller than those of honey bees, but the bees are strong and robust. They can be aggressive around nesting sites but they are rarely aggressive during foraging activities occasionally a problem when their nest is located next to a building or walkway.įor additional information, contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent or search for other state Extension offices. Pest Status: Important pollinators females are capable of stinging. Foraging activities occur only during the daylight hours. Foraging worker bees use long tongues to pollinate clovers and other flowers, collecting pollen and nectar that they bring back to the hive to feed to the colony. Nests may be up to 12 inches in diameter and may have several entrances. Most colonies contain a few hundred bees although thriving colonies can contain up to 2,000 bees. Habitat, Food Source(s), Damage: Nesting sites include clumps of dry grass, old bird nests, abandoned rodent burrows, old mattresses, car cushions or even in or under old abandoned buildings. In the fall, all members of the colony die except the fertilized queens. Male and female bees are produced later in the summer. Queens lay eggs that hatch into larvae and develop through several stages ( instars) before turning into a pupa. Life Cycle: Fertilized queens survive the winter, select an underground nesting site in the spring and construct a nest in which worker bees are raised. Some members of bumble bees (Subfamily Bombinae) in the genus, Psithyrus, are parasites of bumble bees, feeding on larvae. Bumble bees can be distinguished from carpenter bees because of the presence of orangeish or yellow hair patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen on the honey bee. Queens and workers have pollen baskets on their hind legs. Photo by Drees.ĭescription: Bumble bees are easily recognized, being large (3/4 inch long) with black and yellow or orangish hair patterns on their abdomens. ![]()
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