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WILD BEE POLLINATOR DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN ORCHARD AND UNCULTIVATED HABITATS IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Cynthia D. Scott-Dupree  and
Mark L. Winston
Cynthia D. Scott-Dupree
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Mark L. Winston
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
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Abstract

Wild bee pollinators were collected in tree-fruit orchards and uncultivated habitats in the Okanagan Valley. Higher abundance and diversity of wild bee pollinators were found at uncultivated sites than on tree-fruit crops. Wild bees were not abundant enough in orchard habitats to provide adequate tree-fruit pollination. Variable flower visitation patterns by polylectic bees in orchard and uncultivated habitats make it difficult to predict floral visitation patterns. Therefore, orchardists cannot rely on a substantial and predictable contribution to pollination of fruit crops by wild bee species. Research into the use of wild bees as managed pollinators for tree-fruit crops in the Okanagan Valley may have potential. Future studies should consider three wild bee species collected in Okanagan Valley orchards, Bombus terricola occidentalis Greene, Bombus bifarius nearcticus Handlirsch, and Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, for pollination management.

Résumé

On a collectionné des abeilles sauvages pollinisatrices dans des vergers fruitiers et des habitats incultes de la vallée de l’Okanagan. L’abondance et la diversité des abeilles sauvages étaient plus grandes aux endroits incultes que dans les vergers. Les abeilles sauvages n’étaient pas suffisamment abondantes dans les vergers pour assurer la pollinisation adéquate des arbres fruitiers. Les patrons de visite des fleurs par les abeilles polylectiques dans les vergers et les habitats non cultivés rendent difficile toute prévision de la visite des fleurs. Ainsi, les producteurs ne peuvent pas compter sur une contribution substantielle et prévisible des abeilles sauvages à la pollinisation des cultures fruitières. La recherche sur l’utilisation des abeilles sauvages comme pollinisateurs régis dans les cultures fruitières de la vallée de l’Okanagan a une certaine utilité potentielle. Les études futures devraient se concentrer sur trois espèces sauvages présentes dans l’Okanagan, Bombus terricola occidentalis Greene, Bombus bifarius nearcticus Handlirsch, et Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson, dans un éventuel programme de régie de la pollinisation.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 119 , Issue 7-8 , August 1987 , pp. 735 - 745
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1987

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