My last note:
>>>    It would be awful barren without our honeybees.  I spent about three
hours at midday today just observing the Kiwi pollination. I saw only one
solitary bee and one carpenter bee, besides our busy little helpers. I love
watching the honeybees wallow around among the anthers.
 
 [log in to unmask] (Doug Yanega) responds:
>That scenario would probably change if folks started trying to develop ways
to encourage and/or mass rear these native bees, don't you think? They'd
probably get better pollination services in the long run for many of their
crops, too. (I know, I know... *HERESY!*...but it *is* probably true)
 
    Heresy, eh?   Yes and No.
 
    SOME of the complaints about honeybees pollinating actually derive from
poor quality hives, or hives not managed for pollination.  There is a myth
about, that honeybees won't work Kiwi.  It is a bit harder, but they work
them just fine, if you manage the bees properly.
 
    It is hard to match the pollinating effect of 20,000 little critters in a
box, just anxious to get to work.  I don't think honeybees will be replaced
for commercial crop pollination very soon.  Not on the crops we are currently
doing.....
 
   That said, I do see possibilities of *supplementing* them with alternative
pollinators on some crops like Kiwi.   Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra &c
are another story.....
 
   I very much want to get into propagation and culture of any bee that will
help with pollination.  Our native bees have declined a lot in this area,
though upstate still has higher populations of solitary bees.  These are the
main pollinators for peaches in some areas. (Because beehives aren't placed
in all orchards, a lot of growers think bees aren't needed for peaches.)
 
   I am seeking info on capture, culture and propagation of solitary bees,
especially anything available on the internet, as I am far from university
libraries. Can you point me in the right direction?  Please.
 
[log in to unmask]  Dave Green