At 04:27 PM 5/4/98 -0400, you wrote:
>I have recently had a request for help from a local greenhouse
>grower.  This operator uses bumble bee colonies to pollinate his
>tomato and cucumber crops.  He ahs been using these for about four
>years now and has had good success until recently.  The colonies that
>he purchased in 1998 do not seem to be anxious to leave their hives
>to work the crops.  As a result  his pollination rate is low.
 
I am not a BUMBLE BEE expert but the first thing I would want to know about
is any changes in lighting conditions in that green house from last year to
this year.
 
>I would apprectiate any suggestions as to what  may be the cause of
>the problem, and any practical solutions.
 
I would fist look for a new source of BB's, then I would try to increase
the amount of light in the green house and hope that gets the lazy BB's out
to work. I would also look at the seed source as if the plants produce no
rewards for the bees then all the above is wasted effort.
 
Again I am not a BUMBLE BEEMAN. If I were you would not bee getting this
information for free.<G>
 
ttul, the OLd Drone
http://beenet.com
 
 
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