In a message dated 96-06-07 10:37:11 EDT, Doug Yanega writes: >>Bee experts said that they can't predict how the >> decline in the wild bee population will affect wild plants and the >> animals that eat them. But they guessed that in places such as New >> York and New Jersey, which may have no wild honeybees left, there >> aren't going to be too many wild berries this year. > >Is there anyone besides me who finds this (and other pronouncements of doom >in this article) to be excessively pessimistic, ignoring the possible >ameliorating effects of *native* bee species? There *is* a native bee >expert in Shimanuki's lab there in Beltsville, after all - so there is no >obvious excuse for them to neglect to mention this anywhere. >Exasperated, as usual, > >Doug Yanega Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr. Your point is well taken, Doug, but the other pollinators around here are in just as bad shape. There are some who think they will recover. Well, the American chestnut, and the American elm probably will *eventually* recover, but it will be a darn slow process without a lot of help. I hear a lot of talk about other pollinators, but don't see much chance of protecting and enhancing these, particularly when the primary means of evading enforcement of pesticide label directions is to order the beekeeper to move or protect his bees. Any pollinator here whose life cycle intersects with cotton bloom is in danger of eradication. How much is just talk, and how much is serious effort? And how little dissemination of info on culture of alternative pollinators (trade secrets?) I admire and thank Keith Delaplane for finally getting some real info on bumblebee culture to those of us who'd like to try. He's a mover and shaker in the beekeeping world. Doug, you are also ignoring the way agriculture has changed, even in one generation. There is just no way unmanaged, uncultured wild pollinators are going to be adequate in a monoculture situation. You can decry the monoculture, but I doubt you (or I) could stop it. In just the past ten years, I've seen many of the smaller cuke and melon growers quit. One reason is that they relied on wild pollinators, or skimped on honeybees. I listen to them complain that they can't make any money. The big growers use bees in a lot better ratio, and they don't complain; they just increase acreage for another year. Well, we've just completed one of the best springs with the fewest hives we've had in recent years. I wanted to save some hives out to go to sourwood, but most of these have been taken by desperate melon growers who suddenly found out about the bees (after losing the crown bloom crop). We've got some nucs left; perhaps they can be beefed up enough in two weeks???? The honeybees are in great shape, with many hives having bees out on the porch, as they used to in the "good ole' days." Of course the cotton bloom hasn't started yet. We haven't had a trace of any pesticide damage yet this year. Wheat we've seen has been clean of mustard, or else perhaps hasn't been sprayed. The martins and swallows may have done a sufficient job. They sure were "swarming" over the wheat fields. Keeping our fingers crossed and our camcorder ready. Hopefully my efforts to protect honeybees will also protect other pollinators. [log in to unmask] Dave Green, PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC 29554 Practical Pollination Home Page Dave & Janice Green http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html