WIIAT ABOUT YOUR POLLINATORS ? 



If you are to have a satisfactory fruit set, you must have sufficient insects 

 to distribute the pollen during the period of bloom. Bees are the only insects of 

 significance in distributing pollen to deciduous fruits. There are three principal 

 groups of bees, the bumble bees, the honey bees and the solitary bees. All are of 

 value but from a practical standpoint, the honey bee is the only insect that can be 

 increased in numbers and distributed where wanted and when needed in the orchard. 



Much has been done to determine the type of colony best suited for pollination, 

 Farrar, 1931, demonstrated that on the basis of equal weights of adult bees, over- 

 wintered colonies are superior to package bees for pollination. He proved that a 

 single overwintered colony, having 3.5 pounds of bees, would send more bees to the 

 field than four 3 pound packages. Farrar's conclusions have been substantiated by 

 other investigators in New York, California and in other areas. For adequate pol- 

 lination, a grower should obtain strong, overwintered colonies. Such colonies will 

 require a minimum of two hive bodies, and some will need three for sufficient room 

 for expansion and storage of nectar and pollen during bloom . 



In order to establish a suitable standard of strength and to provide a basic 

 rental price, Farrar in 1931 proposed that colonies for pollination should occupy 

 5-6 frames when the air temperature is 60 - 65° F. The basic price, in 1931, 

 was set at $5.00. Colonies having fewer than five frames would have $1.25 deducted 

 for each frame less than five. 



If the colony occupies over six frames, Farrar suggested that a premium of 

 $1.00 be given for each additional frame. This was a good basis in 1931 but most 

 beekeepers at present feel that a base price of $5.00 is now too low. 



I 



Since most growers would not wish to open a colony, an alternative method for 

 determining colony strength can be used. Colonies of adequate strength, if exposed ■ 

 to direct sunlight and protected from the wind, should be sending from 40 - 70 bees 

 per minute to the field at air temperatures of 70 - 90° F. during fair weather. If 

 fewer bees are flying under these conditions, the grower might question the strength 

 of the colonies being rented. 



The distribution and number of colonies per acre has been discussed frequently. 

 Under ideal conditions it would probably be best to distribute colonies 1 per acre 

 throughout the orchard. However, since many orchards are windswept, it may be pre- 

 ferable to seek sheltered locations, or even to provide temporary windbreaks and 

 place the colonies in groups of 4 - 6. They should not be located in the shade and 

 should face south or southeast. 



The recommendation of one colony per acre is quite general. It does not take 

 into account the presence of other pollinating insects, the number of colonies in 

 adjoining orchards or the weather. All these factors vary with individual orchards 

 so a grower must decide for himself his need for pollinators, f 



In order to provide good relationships between fruit growers and beekeepers, 

 some suggestions have been offered as to what a fruit grower and a beekeeper might 

 do to make certain that both groups will be satisfied. 



