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THE BENEFITS OF BUMBLE BEES Bumble bees are a busy species, visiting more flowers per hour and producing a higher ratio of class 1 fruit than other pollinators. Yet they are ‘home bodies’ preferring to stay within a 100–200 metre radius of the hive, which means better targeting of your pollinator activity to the desired crop. Covered crop settings, tunnel houses or under netting can be difficult to pollinate. Bumble bees are not ‘claustrophobic,’ happily working in confined spaces. Their non-aggressive nature also means better worker safety around the bees. Zonda’s unique ‘Beehome’ hives are easily closed up or moved should there be a need to apply crop protection agents. Varroa mite has decimated many honeybee populations and these losses can be expensive. The bumble bee can be a cost-effective and efficient pollinator option for many crops, extending pollination activity into the cooler shoulder seasons of the year.
Cooler autumn temperatures, low light levels or rain can reduce pollinator activity. Bumble bees have many advantages when it comes to pollination of both indoor and outdoor crops over a wider period of the year and under most weather conditions. Efficient pollination is important in some crops to produce fruit set, whilst others will benefit greatly in improved yield and quality from supplemental insect mediated pollination. Cucurbits, squash, melon, blueberries and some berryfruit depend on pollinators. Greenhouse crops such as cucumber and tomatoes in particular show benefits from bumble bee pollination. Bumble bees are in a league of their own as pollinators. They are happy to operate at lower temperatures than other bee species, down to 8 degrees Celsius, and undeterred by wind, rain showers or overcast conditions. Bumble bees have a highly efficient system of pollination, utilising their wing muscles to vibrate the pollen off the anthers of a flower and cover the bee for transportation to the next plant (‘buzz pollination’).
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Zonda provides self-contained hives containing hundreds of worker bees plus a queen and is happy to provide post-purchase assistance and advice to achieve the desired pollination results for the crop. Contact Zonda on 0800 496 632 or email zondasales@nzg.co.nz For more information on bumble bees as pollinators visit www.zonda.net.nz.
