Pollination

Honey bees are our most important managed pollinators. Their activity assures sufficient cross-pollination, without which small or misshapen fruits and low yields may result. Although many species of bees can be found in an orchard during bloom, most of these species vary in their abundance from year to year. In addition, regular pesticide applications may limit the number and variety of these pollinators, and some agricultural practices destroy their natural nesting sites. Honey bees can be managed, however, to provide consistent pollinator abundance from year to year. Also, bumble bee colonies are becoming increasingly available for orchard pollination. Although the cost of bumble bee colonies has been prohibitive in the past, the cost of these units has decreased substantially in recent years and some growers are purchasing and using them with good results.

The changing pollination picture
With the introduction of parasitic honey bee mites, the pollination picture is changing rapidly. Abundant feral colonies (wild colonies nesting in trees or other cavities) once provided a measure of pollination security for fruit and vegetable growers; however, this is no longer the case. Feral honey bee colonies are now nearly nonexistent in most areas. Estimates vary, but the Northeast may have lost 80 percent of its feral honey bees. Despite intense efforts to protect their bees, beekeepers are losing large numbers of colonies to these mites and the diseases they transmit. As a result, fewer beekeepers are providing honey bee colonies for growers. In addition, the quality of honey bee colonies, at times, may be marginal for the purpose of pollination. Never before has the pollination situation been so critical. To ensure maximum crop yields, growers now must give careful attention and consideration to crop pollination.

For more information, please see this Penn State Tree Fruit Production Guide Web page.

Penn State Horticulutre Department

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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