What kind of blueberries do you have?

Honey bees are not especially good pollinators of blueberries, they give
variable results and are particular to some varieties. Bumble bees are
better, but no really good methods have yet been developed for field use of
bumble bees. Also, in Nova Scotia, they are testing the use of the alfalfa
leafcutting bees for pollination of low bush blueberries. This bee can be
purchased in large numbers, but it's too late for you to try them this year
because they require a 21 d incubation period before release. 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.

Rosalind James
USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect Biology Research Unit
Logan, UT

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