To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Apple pollinators
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:15:02 -0700 (PDT)
Bees generally will work one species at a time. It could be there is something blooming at the same time that the bees find more attractive. Or it could be something else. I don't know how to find out what it is unless you could somehow cage the bees in with your apple trees so they didn't have any alternatives. If they still wouldn't go to the blossoms then there is definitely something wrong. If you have sprayed them with pesticides, that might keep the bees away.
From: "Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov"
<Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov> To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 11:55:51 AM Subject: [NAFEX] Apple pollinators
I am puzzled about pollinators for my apples this year. The blueberries are blooming and buzzing madly with bumblebees. When the pears bloomed earlier, they were full of assorted bees, flies and wasps. I see that fruit has set.
My hollies are blooming now. The trees are full of honey bees- the most have seen for 5 years. Yet my apple blossoms seem barely visited. I watched for about 20 mins. on a warm, sunny afternoon, and saw 1 bumble bee and 1swallowtail butterfly briefly visit 2 trees. I observed some very tiny flies (< 2 mm), I don't know if they can act as pollinators.
I had very poor apple fruit set last year, and I wonder why the blooms are not more attractive...
Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed. This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites. Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!
**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!** Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded. No exceptions. ---- To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options): http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex
File attachments are NOT stripped by this list. TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES! Please do not send binary files. Use plain text ONLY in emails!