The Inter- and Intra-Orchard Distribution of Honeybees During Almond Pollination

Summary

The distribution of foraging honeybees was determined, by a magnetic capture-recapture system, for 703 colonies in 9 almond orchards within an area of 9 km² near Dixon, California. Flight distances and directions were recorded for 2052 bees. The mean foraging range of bees from various apiaries within orchards varied from 80 to 261 m; it depended greatly upon the spatial distribution of apiaries. Inter-orchard flights were appreciable from orchards with high colony densities (c. 8/ha) to orchards without colonies or with low colony densities.

In large production areas, pollination districts are suggested for co-ordinating the distribution of colonies for maximal foraging efficiency, and for equitable distribution of colony costs among the growers.