Rosalind James wrote:

>If wild bees
>are present in your field, they can be very good pollinators. Many wild
>bees will fly in colder weather than will honey bees and alfalfa
>leafcutting bees, and they can get into the blueberry flower better.
>
>
Even though the original post was more about the weather here in Maine
(we expect sun by next Thursday- be up to high 60s!), the use of other
sources for pollination is of interest. There have been studies using
Mason bees for blueberry pollination but it seems that even though they
are better pollinators, there just are not the numbers needed for
pollination. I understand they are used in Washington State for cherry
pollination with success. I am sure that climate is another factor that
makes their use in Maine problematic.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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