Survey ofNosemaspp. in central Texas native bees and feral honey bees, Apis mellifera

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Forrest L. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Central Texas

scholarly journals Diurnal insect visitation patterns to ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit flowers in New Zealand

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 52-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.G. Howlett ◽  
S.F.J. Read ◽  
L.K. Jesson ◽  
A. Benoist ◽  
L.E. Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Temporal Pattern ◽  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Bumble Bees ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Longhorn Beetles ◽  
Insect Visitation ◽  
Hover Flies

Different pollinators may vary in their temporal flower-visitation patterns within crops, potentially extending the period pollination may occur. To assess whether this could be the case in kiwifruit, we conducted standardised observational surveys of insects visiting kiwifruit flowers within 31 orchards at three times: 10:00—11:00, 12:00—13:00 and 14:00—15:00 hr. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) represented 92% of visitations (n=5474), but temporal abundances were uneven (predicted abundances were lower at 14:00—15:00 hr). Predatory hover flies (Melangyna, Melonostoma, Allograpta spp.) also showed an uneven temporal pattern. There were no significant differences in the temporal abundances for buff-tailed bumble bees (Bombus terrestris), rat- tailed hover flies (Eristalis, Helophilus spp.), March flies (Dilophis nigrostigma), flower longhorn beetles (Zorion guttigerum) or the native bees (Leioproctus and Lasioglossum spp.) although, in some cases, low numbers may have masked potential unevenness trends. Variation in diurnal flower-visitation patterns among insects suggests the potential for complementarity between different pollinators.

scholarly journals 216 Squash Pollination by Honey Bees vs. Native Pollinators in Maine

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 479C-479
Author(s):  
Laura C. Merrick ◽  
Frank Drummond ◽  
Constance Stubbs ◽  
Rhonda Weber
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Bumble Bees ◽  
Native Bees ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Parasitic Mites ◽  
Winter Squash

Managed and feral honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies have declined dramatically in the past decade due largely to parasitic mites, pesticide contamination, and severe weather. Squash (Cucurbita spp.) is one of many agricultural crops whose production may be negatively effected by decline of these pollinators. A study was conducted on a set of nine farms in Maine to assess the relationship between bee abundance and fruit set of summer and winter squash. The organic and conventional farms targeted in the study included farms with and without the presence of honey bees. With winter squash, fields with more bees tended to exhibit higher fruit set. The average fruit set was slightly higher for farms with honey bees (42%) vs. those without (35%), but both types of farms were similar to that found in controlled hand pollinations (31% on average). In contrast, fruit set for summer squash averaged 95% to 96% for all farms, regardless of the relative abundance of censused bees. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) were the most abundant wild bees found pollinating squash. Farms with honey bees on average had higher numbers of bees in squash flowers than farms without honey bees, although a difference in preference for floral sex type was detected for bee taxa. Honey bees were much more likely to be found in female flowers, while bumble bees were more abundant in male flowers. Significantly more native bees were found in squash flowers on farms without honey bee hives, although native bees were still present to some extent on farms that were dominated by Apis mellifera.

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