Use of Bumble bees, Bombus terrestris, as pollinators of kiwifruit and lucerne in New Zealand

Abstract

In 1983 and 1985 respectively, 4 and 12 large nests of Bombus terrestris (L.) (auctt.) were transported 350 km to flowering kiwifruit. More than 40% of the returning pollen foragers carried pellets the colour of kiwifruit pollen. Nest growth and bee foraging was not detectably affected by nest transport. Pollination fees approximated those received for honey bee hives. Growers favoured bumble bees because of their ability to visit flowers when conditions limited the activity of other bee species. Most nests were later hired out for pollination of lucerne. Exploitation of B. terrestris is constrained by a lack of supply of nests.

Keywords>:

• Bumble bees
• Bombus terrestris
• pollination
• kiwifruit
• lucerne
• New Zealand