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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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From:
Juanse Barros <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 11 Nov 2013 01:43:21 -0200
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I concur to what Deanna from NZ wrote. And expand.

At leat for high bush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) planted at Chile
 honey bee perform wonderfull pollinating, they do not need the buzz. Do
not know for sure with lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium), but certainly for
Cranberries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberry) honey bees (caniolan)
also do great.

Probably this buzz idea is part of bumble bees producers propaganda?

What one observes and it is shown in the scientific literature is that
bumbles give good size of fruit, but not high yield, while honey bees give
standard size but high volumen. This is due to amount of workers per colony
and individual performance. Roughly one bumble bee visit is equivalent to
15 honey bee visits, therefore, as more seed are set at the same time, the
ending fruit is bigger and more perfect (simetrical?). But if one considers
that a bumbe colony have at the maximun 100 workers and a honey bee colony
some 10.000, it is easy to explain the difference in volumen.

I our case, as per literature it is still unknown the exact ambient
conditions  (temperature, humidity, time of day, etc) that the flower
requieres to be pollinated (being receptive) and particularly because the
weather during the pollination period is very unstable, it is better to
have the couple - h.bees+bumbles - to be sure to have an insect pollinating
what ever are the condition and at all times of the day.

This two insects (bombus terrestris and european honey bees) are really a
perfect couple for the above purpose.

PS: We have tried The Couple also in almonds with great results but it is
not economically feasible (do not tell the californian almond growers
tough).

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