I have an inquiry from Mr. Reed Olszack, J.R. Brooks & Son, P.O. Box 900160
Homestead, FL 33030
 
They are growing carambola or star fruit in a twenty acre block under a
shade screen (15% shade on top; 55% on the skirts around the edge) and
would like to use honey bees for pollination.  Bee colonies put under
the shade died; bees were disoriented and crawled.
 
McGregor (AG Handbook 496) says that insects are necessary in
pollinating the fruit and honey bees visit them along with flies that
are the chief pollinating vectors.
 
Mr. Reed asks:
 
What is the native pollinating agent?
What is anyone's experience using honey bees on this crop?
What is anyone's experience trying to get honey bees to work
under a large shade tent (20 acres in this case)?
Where do you place colonies in this situation?  Near the tent?
 
Tom Sanford
 
 
 
 
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Malcolm (Tom) Sanford   Extension Apiculturist   University of Florida
Mailing Address:  Bldg 970, Hull Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Voice phone  904/392-1801, Ext. 143
FAX  904/392-0190
INTERNET:[log in to unmask]; BITNET:MTS@IFASGNV; FREENET:AFN01860@
FREENET.UFL.EDU
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Publisher of APIS -- http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm
Instructor of Principles of Entomology, ENY 3005--
http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~mts/eny3005/eny3005syl.htm
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