Interesting topic.
How much pollination of tree fruit is done by wasps and yellow jackets
and do they have the same water requirements? Seems I am seeing more
of them than bees. Are they predators of our pollinating bees?
Thanks,
D. Del Boca
N.W. Washington
On Friday, May 11, 2007, at 11:01 AM, Kim Flottum wrote:
Some apple varieties will produce and shed pollen earlier in the day
when the temperature rises above 85 or so, and the humidity is low.
One thing to check is early morning, when new blossoms open, before
they have a chance to dehise. I haven't done much with apples in many
years, but used to a lot, and found this to be true...but I don't
recall the varieties. What led to this was a grower saying our bees
weren't doing their job...so we were out before dawn, measuring flight
activity when it began, and what trees it was on....just fyi.
And you are exactly correct on providing water as close to the bees as
reasonable. One caution...long ago it was customary to empty sprayers
in orchards when done spraying....although this isn't the norm, it
can, if practiced, be deadly if bees need, and don't have other water.
Another fyi.
Kim Flottum
Editor, BeeCulture
623 West Liberty Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
V - 800.289.7668 Ext 3214
Fax - 330.725.5624
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.BeeCulture.com
<image.tiff>
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fleming, William
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 10:34 AM
To: Apple-Crop
Subject: RE: *Potential Spam* Apple-Crop: bee activity
Not sure on the pollen aspect but when the temps rise bees start
spending more time hauling water to the hive rather than foraging.
Best thing a grower can do is make sure a water supply the bees can
access without drowning is close by.
Bill Fleming
Montana State University
Western Ag Research Center
580 Quast Ln
Corvallis, MT 59828
(406)961-3025
<image.tiff>
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Franklyn Carlson
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 5:46 AM
To: Apple-Crop
Subject: *Potential Spam* Apple-Crop: bee activity
-->
Would like to get some comments & feedback regarding temps and bee
activity during a real hot bloom period. Here in central Massachusetts
we have had temps in the 88 degree range for the last 3 to 4
days. Have not seen much bee activity in McIntosh at all. We see some
activity in the Cortland, Delicious etc. Growers that get bees from
different suppliers are noticing the same thing. Can it get too hot
and make the pollen unattractive to the bees?
Frank Carlson
Carlson Orchards, Inc.
Harvard, MA
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