Honeybee Pollination

1. “TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE”
THAT IS THE QUESTION?
HARRY R. FULTON
BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY
MISSISSIPPI DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE

2. Beekeeping, No Matter
Where, Involves a Complex
Environmental Interaction of
Many Living Organisms and
Situations

3. But, if You Don’t Make
Money Just Think!!!!
USDA RESEARCH FROM THE
1970’S SHOWS THAT EACH HIVE
DOES ABOUT $2,000 WORTH OF
POLLINATION!!!!!!!!!!!

4. No. bees and/or colonies suggested to
enhance pollination of crops
(From Insect Pollination o Cultivated Crop Plants, Agriculture
Handbook No. 496)
Fruit Orchards-
Melons/Cucurbits-
Clover (Seed)-
Cotton-
Blueberry-
Strawberry-
Pumpkins/squash-
Blackberry-
Vetch-
Soybeans-
Cole Crops-
Onions

5. SIGNS OF ADEQUATE
POLLINATION!
General Look!
– Symmetrical fruit
– Seed pods filled.
– Tight clusters of fruit/seed.

6. FEMALE MALE
MALE
ZUCCHINI
SQUASH
FEMALE

7. Cotton and Soybeans
At least 1 colony per 5 acres.

8. Importance of Bees in
Pollination
Cotton
Is Mostly Self Pollinated with 5% natural Crossing
Pollen Grains are Large/Sticky- 81 to 143
microns; therefore cotton is not Wind Pollinated!
Pollen is transported mechanically from anthers
to stigma!
According to Literature the presence of large
numbers of honey bees can increase production
as up to 50% or even more!
Just because a plant is touted to be self-
pollinated it doesn’t mean pollinating insects
don’t play a major role in pollinating the plant!!!!

9. SIGNS OF ADEQUATE
POLLINATION!
COTTON!
All stigma tips are well coated with pollen by
noon!
Flower petals are changing from white to pink
and the corolla is closed into tunnel-like tube
by mid-afternoon.
Is adequate if flowers are white at sunset.

10. COTTON POLLINATION
Cotton Bloom
Cotton Bloom
• Stigma much higher than anthers
• Stigma and Anthers close to same
height! • Some Round-Up Ready Varieties
• Most Standard Varieties?

11. THE FEAR!!!
How Far are Bees safe
From Cotton??
Depends Upon the Pesticide Used!
Damage May Occur up to 2 miles or
more!
I Have bees 50 feet from a 10 acre
experimental field and have had no
damage!

12. Importance of Bees in Pollination
Soybeans
– Very Good Nectar Producer if:
Hot/Dry!
Soil Ph high!
Variety of Choice!
– Up to 20% increase in Yields if:
Adequate bee population present!
Good fertility!
Variety Is attractive to bees!

13. Vetch
One colony per 3-5 acres.

14. Blackberry
One bee/100 blossoms or 1 colony/
acre.

15. Fruit Orchards
One bee/1000 blossoms or 1
colony per acre.

16. SIGNS OF ADEQUATE
POLLINATION!!
Apples!!
- Most of apples developing from primary
(king) flowers.

17. Blueberry
More than 1 colony/acre.

18. STRAWBERRY
1 COLONY PER 2 ACRES

19. Pumpkins/squash/Cucumber
At least 1 colony/acre.

20. MALE
FEMALE
PUMPKIN

21. Melons/Cucurbits
One Pollinator/100 blossoms at
midmorning or 1 colony per 2-3
acres.

22. WATERMELON

23. CUCUMBER
FEMALE
MALE FLOWER

24. SIGNS OF ADEQUATE
PUMPKIN
POLLINATION! CANTELOPE
MELONS &
CUCURBITS!!
CUCUMBER
WATERMELON SQUASH
2 + symmetrical fruits near base of plant

25. Clover (Seed)
1 or 2 colonies/acre.

26. SIGNS OF ADEQUATE
POLLINATION!
Clover/Alfalfa!!
Fields have uniform “rusty
green” appearance. Not a
spotty look!

27. COLE CROPS (BRASSICA SPP.)
Two colonies per acre
REQUIRE INSECT POLLINATION
BROCCOLI
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
CABBAGE
CAULIFLOWER
KALE
KOHLRABI

28. ONION AND LEEK
Two colonies per acre
8-10 TIMES INCREASE IN YIELD WITH
INSECT POLLINATION

29. Nectar Secretion
Requires:
Sunshine =
Photosynthesis
Sugar Production

30. Amount and Quality of Nectar
Available to the bee is
Determined by:
Amount of Sugar Produced in Plant
Atmospheric Pressure (Lower the Best)
Temperature (Depends on Species of
Plant)
Humidity (The Higher the Better without
Rain)
Transpiration Rate of Plant (Osmosis)
Precipitation Within the Last Few Hours

31. Soil Conditions Affect
Nectar Secretion How?
Fertility
Available Moisture
Acidity

32. GETTING ATTENTION-
ADVERTISING!
NOT A BEEHIVE?????