Pollination efficiency and foraging behaviour of honey bees and non‐Apis bees to sweet cherry

Abstract

Crop pollination generally increases with pollinator diversity and wild pollinator visitation. To optimize crop pollination, it is necessary to investigate the pollination contribution of different pollinator species. In the present study, we examined this contribution of honey bees and non‐Apis bees (bumble bees, mason bees and other solitary bees) in sweet cherry. We assessed the pollination efficiency (fruit set of flowers receiving only one visit) and foraging behaviour (flower visitation rate, probability of tree change, probability of row change and contact with the stigma) of honey bees and different types of non‐Apis bees. Single visit pollination efficiency on sweet cherry was higher for both mason bees and solitary bees compared with bumble bees and honey bees. The different measures of foraging behaviour were variable among non‐Apis bees and honey bees. Adding to their high single visit efficiency, mason bees also visited significantly more flower per minute, and they had a high probability of tree change and a high probability to contact the stigma. The results of the present study highlight the higher pollination performance of solitary bees and especially mason bees compared with bumble bees and honey bees. Management to support species with high pollination efficiency and effective foraging behaviour will promote crop pollination.

A Growers’ Perspective on Crop Pollination and Measures to Manage the Pollination Service of Wild Pollinators in Sweet Cherry Cultivation

“…The growers’ perspective on solitary bees was especially striking, 70.9% of the growers mentioned that these species are important but only 16.6% provide trap nests for solitary bees in their orchards ( Table 1 C,D). The latter is contrary to the fact that that wild pollinators are instrumental in achieving adequate sweet cherry yields [ 14 , 18 ], and that solitary bees are very efficient pollinators of sweet cherry compared to bumble bees and honey bees [ 24 ]. Thus, there seems to be a gap between growers’ view on the role of bumble bees and solitary bees in crop pollination, and their efforts to manage or attract these species.…”

Distribution of a model biocontrol agent (Serenade® MAX) in apple and pear by mason bees and bumble bees

“…(2015) and Eeraerts et al . (2020a) showed higher flower visit rates in apple and cherry orchards, respectively, by mason and bumble bees compared to honey bees. Furthermore, increased presences of wild bees and bumble bees induced more row and tree changes by honey bees in cherry and almond orchards (Brittain et al ., 2013; Eeraerts et al ., 2020b), which will possibly result in an increased distribution of BCA.…”

Use of a Managed Solitary Bee to Pollinate Almonds: Population Sustainability and Increased Fruit Set

“…Apis mellifera is consistently reported as the dominant pollinator species in commercial orchards (e.g., [ 11 , 12 , 48 ]). However, its contribution to pollination service is strongly limited by its low per-visit pollination effectiveness on fruit tree flowers [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Our results are limited to a single orchard and a single year.…”

“…In addition, because they have long foraging ranges [ 17 , 18 , 19 ], and are highly generalist foragers, they often visit other flower species [ 14 ]. Finally, honey bees are not very effective fruit tree pollinators, mainly due to their low visit legitimacy (many of the visits result in no contact between the bee and the stigmas; [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]). These shortcomings, along with the risks associated with relying on a single species, have prompted the search for alternative pollinators, and methods to manage various Osmia species as orchard pollinators have been developed in different parts of the world [ 26 , 27 ].…”

“…In addition, they have short foraging ranges [ 28 , 29 , 30 ] and show a strong preference for fruit tree pollen [ 21 , 23 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Finally, Osmia visit legitimacy on fruit three flowers is close to 100%, and fruit set in flowers receiving a single visit is similar to fruit set in hand-pollinated flowers [ 20 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 36 ]. For these reasons, population densities recommended for orchard pollination with Osmia spp.…”