Analysis of Pollination Services Provided by Wild and Managed Bees (Apoidea) in Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) Production in Maine, USA, with a Literature Review

Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) in the United States. Pollination comes from combinations of honey bees (Apis mellifera (L.)), commercial bumble bees (Bombus impatiens Cresson), and wild bees. This study addresses (1) previous research addressing wild-blueberry pollination, (2) effects of wild-bee and honey-bee activity densities on fruit set, yield, and crop value, (3) the economic value of wild-bee communities, and (4) economic consequences of pollinator loss. Bee communities were sampled in 40 fields over three years (2010–2012) and bee activity densities were estimated for bumble bees, honey bees, and other wild bees. These data were applied to an economic model to estimate the value of bee taxa. Bumble bees and honey bees predicted fruit set and reduced its spatial heterogeneity. Other wild bees were not significant predictors of fruit set. Yield was predicted by fruit set and field size, but not pest management tactics. Our analysis showed that disruption in supply of honey bees would result in nearly a 30% decrease in crop yield, buffered in part by wild bees that provide “background” levels of pollination. Honey-bee stocking density and, thus, the activity density of honey bees was greater in larger fields, but not for wild bees. Therefore, a decrease in crop yield would be greater than 30% for large fields due to the proportionally greater investment in honey bees in large fields and a relatively lower contribution by wild bees.

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Reduced nest development of reared Bombus terrestris within apiary dense human-modified landscapes

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82540-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ivan Meeus ◽

Laurian Parmentier ◽

Matti Pisman ◽

Dirk C. de Graaf ◽

Guy Smagghe

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Bombus Terrestris ◽

Global Scale ◽

Bumble Bees ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Wild Bee ◽

Important Trait ◽

Competition For Resources ◽

Biomass Increase

AbstractWild bees are in decline on a local to global scale. The presence of managed honey bees can lead to competition for resources with wild bee species, which has not been investigated so far for human-modified landscapes. In this study we assess if managed honey bee hive density influence nest development (biomass) of bumble bees, an important trait affecting fitness. We hypothesize that domesticated honey bees can negatively affect Bombus terrestris nest development in human-modified landscapes. In Flanders, Belgium, where such landscapes are dominantly present, we selected 11 locations with landscape metrics ranging from urban to agricultural. The bee hive locations were mapped and each location contained one apiary dense (AD) and one apiary sparse (AS) study site (mean density of 7.6 ± 5.7 managed honey bee hives per km2 in AD sites). We assessed the effect of apiary density on the reproduction of reared B. terrestris nests. Reared B. terrestris nests had more biomass increase over 8 weeks in apiary sparse (AS) sites compared to nests located in apiary dense (AD) sites. This effect was mainly visible in urban locations, where nest in AS sites have 99.25 ± 60.99 g more biomass increase compared to nest in urban AD sites. Additionally, we found that managed bumble bee nests had higher biomass increase in urban locations. We conclude that the density of bee hives is a factor to consider in regard to interspecific competition between domesticated honey bees and bumble bees.

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

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.34.3.479c ◽

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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Diversified Farming in a Monoculture Landscape: Effects on Honey Bee Health and Wild Bee Communities

Environmental Entomology ◽

10.1093/ee/nvaa031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 753-764 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ashley L St. Clair ◽

Ge Zhang ◽

Adam G Dolezal ◽

Matthew E O’Neal ◽

Amy L Toth

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Colony Growth ◽

Nutritional State ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Wild Bee ◽

Bee Conservation ◽

Bee Communities

Abstract In the last century, a global transformation of Earth’s surface has occurred due to human activity with extensive agriculture replacing natural ecosystems. Concomitant declines in wild and managed bees are occurring, largely due to a lack of floral resources and inadequate nutrition, caused by conversion to monoculture-based farming. Diversified fruit and vegetable farms may provide an enhanced variety of resources through crops and weedy plants, which have potential to sustain human and bee nutrition. We hypothesized fruit and vegetable farms can enhance honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Apis mellifera Linnaeus) colony growth and nutritional state over a soybean monoculture, as well as support a more diverse wild bee community. We tracked honey bee colony growth, nutritional state, and wild bee abundance, richness, and diversity in both farm types. Honey bees kept at diversified farms had increased colony weight and preoverwintering nutritional state. Regardless of colony location, precipitous declines in colony weight occurred during autumn and thus colonies were not completely buffered from the stressors of living in a matrix dominated with monocultures. Contrary to our hypothesis, wild bee diversity was greater in soybean, specifically in August, a time when fields are in bloom. These differences were largely driven by four common bee species that performed well in soybean. Overall, these results suggest fruit and vegetable farms provide some benefits for honey bees; however, they do not benefit wild bee communities. Thus, incorporation of natural habitat, rather than diversified farming, in these landscapes, may be a better choice for wild bee conservation efforts.

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Bumble bees influence berry size in commercial Vaccinium spp. cultivation in British Columbia

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n07-065 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 140 (3) ◽

pp. 348-363 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Claudia M. Ratti ◽

Heather A. Higo ◽

Terry L. Griswold ◽

Mark L. Winston

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽

Bumble Bees ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Wild Bee ◽

Berry Size ◽

Dispersion Patterns ◽

Potential Alternative ◽

Fraser Valley

AbstractWe studied the abundance, diversity, and dispersion patterns of managed and wild bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) populations in commercial highbush blueberry and cranberry (Ericaceae: Vaccinium corymbosum L., Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) fields in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, and assessed their potential as pollinators of these crops by determining which groups of bees had the greatest impact on percent yield and mass of berries. Bumble bees were evenly distributed within both crops. Other wild bee species were well distributed in blueberry fields but generally remained at edges of cranberry fields. Percent berry yield was not related to bee abundance for any group of bees, nor was species diversity correlated with berry mass. Blueberry mass and cranberry mass were related to abundance of bumble bees but not to that of honey bees or other wild bees. Bumble bees are recommended as potential alternative pollinators of these crops.

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Possible Spillover of Pathogens between Bee Communities Foraging on the Same Floral Resource

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12020122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 122

Author(s):

Anne Dalmon ◽

Virgine Diévart ◽

Maxime Thomasson ◽

Romain Fouque ◽

Bernard E. Vaissière ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Population Decline ◽

Virus Transmission ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Wild Bee ◽

Pollinator Community ◽

Floral Resource ◽

Paralysis Virus

Viruses are known to contribute to bee population decline. Possible spillover is suspected from the co-occurrence of viruses in wild bees and honey bees. In order to study the risk of virus transmission between wild and managed bee species sharing the same floral resource, we tried to maximize the possible cross-infections using Phacelia tanacetifolia, which is highly attractive to honey bees and a broad range of wild bee species. Virus prevalence was compared over two years in Southern France. A total of 1137 wild bees from 29 wild bee species (based on COI barcoding) and 920 honey bees (Apis mellifera) were checked for the seven most common honey bee RNA viruses. Halictid bees were the most abundant. Co-infections were frequent, and Sacbrood virus (SBV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) were widespread in the hymenopteran pollinator community. Conversely, Deformed wing virus (DWV) was detected at low levels in wild bees, whereas it was highly prevalent in honey bees (78.3% of the samples). Both wild bee and honey bee virus isolates were sequenced to look for possible host-specificity or geographical structuring. ABPV phylogeny suggested a specific cluster for Eucera bees, while isolates of DWV from bumble bees (Bombus spp.) clustered together with honey bee isolates, suggesting a possible spillover.

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Honey bee stocking numbers and wild blueberry production in Nova Scotia

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps2012-045 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (7) ◽

pp. 1305-1310 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Leonard J. Eaton ◽

Vilis O. Nams

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Nova Scotia ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Field Size ◽

Megachile Rotundata ◽

Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽

Wild Blueberries ◽

Stocking Rates ◽

Wild Blueberry

Eaton, L. J. and Nams, V. O. 2012. Honey bee stocking numbers and wild blueberry production in Nova Scotia. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 1305–1310. Wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) require cross pollination by insects. Introduction of managed species such as honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and alfalfa leafcutting bees (Megachile rotundata Fabr.) is costly. We assessed the effects of stocking rates of honey bee hives and the interacting effects of the numbers of honey bees and other bees on yield of blueberries in commercial fields. Blueberry fields were sampled from 101 fields in years 1991 to 2010 in Nova Scotia. We recorded field size, numbers of beehives, yield, densities of bees, numbers of buds, blossoms and set fruit. Yields increased linearly with numbers of beehives, up to∼4 hives/hectare, but at higher stocking rates there was too much variation to adequately determine the effects. Yields also increased linearly with numbers of honey bees, but there was an interaction with other bees that decreased the effects of honey bees, such that at maximum densities of other bees, there was no effect of honey bees on yield. These results suggest that other bees and honey bees compete for pollination. If producers have limited numbers of beehives, we suggest that more should be placed in areas where densities of other bees are lower, up to approximately 4 hives/hectare.

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Influence of Nesting Characteristics on Health of Wild Bee Communities

Annual Review of Entomology ◽

10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-024955 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 39-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alexandra Harmon-Threatt

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Nest Site ◽

Site Conditions ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Nesting Biology ◽

Habitat Disturbances ◽

Wild Bee ◽

Growth Development ◽

Bee Communities ◽

Nest Initiation

Nest site availability and quality are important for maintaining robust populations and communities of wild bees. However, for most species, nesting traits and nest site conditions are poorly known, limiting both our understanding of basic ecology for bee species and conservation efforts. Additionally, many of the threats commonly associated with reducing bee populations have effects that can extend into nests but are largely unstudied. In general, threats such as habitat disturbances and climate change likely affect nest site availability and nest site conditions, which in turn affect nest initiation, growth, development, and overwintering success of bees. To facilitate a better understanding of how these and other threats may affect nesting bees, in this review, I quantify key nesting traits and environmental conditions and then consider how these traits may intersect with observed and anticipated changes in nesting conditions experienced by wild bees. These data suggest that the effects of common threats to bees through nesting may strongly influence their survival and persistence but are vastly understudied. Increasing research into nesting biology and incorporating nesting information into conservation efforts may help improve conservation of this declining but critical group.

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ALSIKE CLOVER POLLINATION BY HONEY BEES IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps59-069 ◽

1959 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 505-511 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

P. Pankiw ◽

C. R. Elliott

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Plant Species ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Bumble Bees ◽

Flowering Period ◽

Peace River ◽

River Region ◽

Native Pollinator ◽

Seed Yields

Pollination studies involving zero, one and three colonies of honey bees per acre, on commercial alsike clover fields ranging in size from 15 to 75 acres, were conducted in 1954, 1955, and 1957 in the Hinton Trail district of the Peace River Region of Alberta. These studies indicated that in large fields one colony of honey bees per acre is sufficient to pollinate alsike clover, consideration being given to competition of other crops and to the climatic conditions. The influence of competing crops was such that 65- to 75-acre fields, with one colony per acre, were similar in honey bee populations and seed production to 15- to 20-acre fields with three colonies per acre. Competing plant species accounted for 15 to 36 per cent of the pollen collected by honey bees. Fields with the higher populations of pollinators matured earlier than fields deficient in pollinators. A population of 3400 honey bees per acre (0.7 bee per sq. yd.) throughout the flowering period resulted in seed sets up to 82 per cent and seed yields to 375 lb. per acre. Check fields, where no honey bees were supplied, ranged in production from 29 lb. per acre, with a low native pollinator count, to 293 lb. where a pollinator equivalent of 1300 bumble bees per acre was observed. Bumble bees worked alsike clover at the rate of 28.6 florets per minute, as compared to 20.0 for leaf-cutter bees and 18.7 for honey bees.

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First Complete Genome of Lake Sinai Virus Lineage 3 and Genetic Diversity of Lake Sinai Virus Strains From Honey Bees and Bumble Bees

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toaa049 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (3) ◽

pp. 1055-1061 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura Šimenc ◽

Urška Kuhar ◽

Urška Jamnikar-Ciglenečki ◽

Ivan Toplak

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Complete Genome ◽

Bumble Bees ◽

Bumble Bee ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Genome Region ◽

Pcr Method ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs ◽

First Time

Abstract The complete genome of Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3) was sequenced by the Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology from an archive sample of honey bees collected in 2010. This strain M92/2010 is the first complete genome sequence of LSV lineage 3. From October 2016 to December 2017, 56 honey bee samples from 32 different locations and 41 bumble bee samples from five different locations were collected. These samples were tested using a specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method; 75.92% of honey bee samples and 17.07% of bumble bee samples were LSV-positive with the RT-PCR method. Phylogenetic comparison of 557-base pair-long RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genome region of selected 23 positive samples of honey bees and three positive bumble bee samples identified three different LSV lineages: LSV1, LSV2, and LSV3. The LSV3 lineage was confirmed for the first time in Slovenia in 2010, and the same strain was later detected in several locations within the country. The LSV strains detected in bumble bees are from 98.6 to 99.4% identical to LSV strains detected among honey bees in the same territory.

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Busy Bees: Variation in Insect Flower-Visiting Rates across Multiple Plant Species

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/2015/134630 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Margaret J. Couvillon ◽

Chandra M. Walter ◽

Eluned M. Blows ◽

Tomer J. Czaczkes ◽

Karin L. Alton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Plant Species ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Bumble Bees ◽

The Other ◽

Insect Diversity ◽

Visitation Rates ◽

Insect Visitation ◽

Flower Visiting

We quantified insect visitation rates by counting how many flowers/inflorescences were probed per unit time for five plant species (four native and one garden: California lilac, bramble, ragwort, wild marjoram, and ivy) growing in Sussex, United Kingdom, by following individual insects (n=2987) from nine functional groups (honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumble bees (Bombusspp.), hoverflies, flies, butterflies, beetles, wasps, non-Apidae bees, and moths). Additionally, we made a census of the insect diversity on the studied plant species. Overall we found that insect groups differed greatly in their rate of flower visits (P<2.2e-16), with bumble bees and honey bees visiting significantly more flowers per time (11.5 and 9.2 flowers/minute, resp.) than the other insect groups. Additionally, we report on a within-group difference in the non-Apidae bees, where the genusOsmia, which is often suggested as an alternative to honey bees as a managed pollinator, was very speedy (13.4 flowers/minute) compared to the other non-Apidae bees (4.3 flowers/minute). Our census showed that the plants attracted a range of insects, with the honey bee as the most abundant visitor (34%). Therefore, rate differences cannot be explained by particular specializations. Lastly, we discuss potential implications of our conclusions for pollination.

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