Marchese J I, Johnson G J, Delaney D A
Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, 531 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19716.
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, 531 South College Ave, Newark, DE 19716.
J Econ Entomol. 2015 Aug;108(4):1810-7. doi: 10.1093/jee/tov165. Epub 2015 Jun 24.
In light of population declines of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), research has refocused attention on alternative pollinators and their potential to fulfill pollination services within economically important agricultural crops. Bumble bees are one such alternative, and within the past 20 yr, these pollinators have been reared and sold as commercial pollinators. Investigation into their use has been limited and more research is needed to improve pollinator effectiveness in field settings. Quad pollination units of the commercially reared native bumble bee species, the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens Cresson), were monitored and evaluated for productivity during peak watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunberg) Matsumura & Nakai] bloom in southern Delaware. Differing colony exposures including various shade structure designs and natural shade were compared to assess the quality of the shade in regards to bumble bee activity during watermelon bloom. Quads receiving different nest treatments were evaluated on the basis of foraging activity and colony weight gain. Results indicated that colonies within quads provided with artificial or natural shade had significantly more foraging activity, weighed more, and produced more cells than colonies in quads placed in the field with no shade. Colonies within quads provided with artificial and natural shade peaked later in terms of foraging and weight gain, suggesting that growers could extend harvest to take advantage of later markets and possible movement into fields that were planted later.
鉴于蜜蜂（西方蜜蜂）种群数量下降，研究重新将注意力集中在替代传粉者及其在经济上重要的农作物中提供授粉服务的潜力上。熊蜂就是这样一种替代传粉者，在过去20年里，这些传粉者已作为商业传粉者进行饲养和销售。对其使用的调查有限，需要更多研究来提高传粉者在田间环境中的有效性。在特拉华州南部西瓜[西瓜（Thunberg）Matsumura & Nakai]盛开的高峰期，对商业饲养的本地熊蜂物种——东部常见熊蜂（Bombus impatiens Cresson）的四个授粉单元的生产力进行了监测和评估。比较了不同的蜂群暴露情况，包括各种遮阳结构设计和自然遮荫，以评估在西瓜开花期间遮荫对熊蜂活动的质量。根据觅食活动和蜂群体重增加情况，对接受不同巢穴处理的四个授粉单元进行了评估。结果表明，与放置在无遮荫田间的四个授粉单元中的蜂群相比，配备人工或自然遮荫的四个授粉单元中的蜂群具有显著更多的觅食活动、更重的体重且产生更多的巢室。配备人工和自然遮荫的四个授粉单元中的蜂群在觅食和体重增加方面达到峰值的时间较晚，这表明种植者可以延长收获时间，以利用后期市场，并可能进入种植较晚的田地。
