THE POTENTIAL OF ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEES (Megachile rotundata L.) AS POLLINATORS OF CRANBERRY (Vaccinium macrocarpon AITON)

摘要

Investigations on the pollination of cranberry by alfalfa leafcutter bees (ALBs) were carried out in 1994 and 1995 on a 4 ha bog in Nova Scotia. ALBs foraged for nectar on cranberry flowers but visited other plants for pollen and leaf material. When placed directly out of incubation onto cranberry in 1994, bees repidly dispersed throughout the bog and abandoned the supplied nests for surrounding vegetation and structures. However, when bees with established nests were moved onto the bog in 1995, they remained with the nests and foraged near them. There was no significant difference in fruit set near to as compared with far from the shelter in either year. In 1995, berry size was slightly larger close to than far from the shelters. Given that ALBs do not use cranberry pollen, require alternate leaf material, and abscond from their nests, there is little potential for their use as managed pollinators of cranberry.