Recent Research

Top of the pollinators

Solitary bees emerged as the most abundant pollinating insects in fruit crops in a survey carried out by scientists at East Malling Research (EMR), UK. They outnumbered honey bees and bumblebees as the second and third most frequent foragers. The survey formed part of a research project looking at ways in which growers can boost insect pollination in fruit crops and involved monitoring visitors to plants each hour in six orchards, including a hectare of apples, a hectare of pears and a blackcurrant plantation.

“Often pollination is not something that is highlighted in best practice. Prior to the study there was a lack of evidence to show which insects visit the fruit blossom;” said Michelle Fountain of EMR.

Andrena dorsata and Andrena haemorrhoa were common on all three crops. The term ‘solitary’ is misleading because they are communal insects - each bee is providing for its own eggs - they are just nesting in the same place,” said Ms Fountain. She advised growers that solitary bees like to nest in undisturbed, south-facing, sparsely vegetated ground with loose, crumbly soil not susceptible to waterlogging.

Source: www.Hort.week.com