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Sat, 13 Aug 1994 10:25:47 -0400 |
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There are several companies in Europe which specialize in the sale of
bumblebee colonies for greenhouse pollination. There are reasons to
beleive that corporate ethics are not as strong in some as in others.
I suggest that anyone interested in dealing with these companies keep in
mind that:
Intoductions of non-native bumblebees to any country or part of a country
(e.g. in North America across the western Cordillera) should NOT be
permitted. The escape of exotics into competition with native species has
caused all manner of problems al over the world, though not, as far as we
know yet with bumblbees. Thus, Bombus terrestris should not be
transported from its native, European, range into North America,
especially considering that there are North American species that do the
job better, or as well.
The consequences of introductions of exotic (non-native) bumblebee
species could be far reaching, not just for the native bumblebees, but
for the flora which may depend on them for pollination, seed-set, and
continual survival.
Names that come up on the bumblebees-for-sale list are:
Koppert,
Brinkman,
Bunting,
Biobest.
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