Pollination. Citadel, Charleston May Richard Hanks and Bill Grayson

Transcription

1 Pollination Citadel, Charleston May 2014 Richard Hanks and Bill Grayson 1

2 Why Do Insects Pollinate Flowers? Using the Honey Bee as an example, nectar and pollen is gathered for food Nectar is the bees source of carbohydrates Nectar s sugar content averages 30% and bees convert nectar into honey at 18.6% moisture Pollen is the bees source of protein Pollen and honey are stored in the bee hive 1 frame/pollen + 1 frame/honey= 1 frame/brood! 2

3 Importance of Pollinators 40% of our Food Crops range between 90 to 100% Dependence on Pollination. Almonds are 100% Dependent Beef and Dairy Products depend on pollination of legumes [alfalfa & clover] Production of the majority of Seeds depends on pollination All Plants seem to be happier when properly pollinated 3

4 South Carolina Beekeepers Economic Impact Pollinating activities are estimated to be 143 times more than the value of honey 1 million pounds of honey produced each year = $1.9 million based on $1.98/pound The majority of our honey customers purchase local honey to minimize allergies South Carolina local honey is normally sold out by November of each year 4

5 South Carolina Beekeepers Economic Impact - Pollination Commercially grown vegetables/fruits/cotton $17 million = honey bees needed for pollination Home garden vegetables/fruits $20 million = honey bees needed for pollination Legumes [alfalfa & clover] Significant = honey bees needed for pollination Wildlife food plants Significant = honey bees needed for pollination 5

6 Small Scale Beekeepers Value to South Carolina 2,800 small scale beekeepers manage < 25 colonies widely dispersed in SC Honey bees forage for 2 miles within location of their colony nest site Proper pollination of South Carolina home- owners vegetable gardens and fruit trees would be drastically reduced without the wide dispersion of small scale beekeepers in our State Small scale beekeepers have replaced the pollination function which was lost due to the disappearance of feral honey bee colonies 6

7 Breakfast with Pollinators 7

8 Breakfast without Pollinators 8

9 Count the Missing Food Sources 9

10 Incomplete Pollination - Apples Reduced number of seeds Apples with less than 6 seeds drop off the tree [Fruit Set!] Produces odd shaped fruit with flat sides [Fruit Quality!] Calcium levels decrease Diseases and black spot increases 10

11 Insect pollination is necessary or helpful for many fruit crops Tree Fruit Apple Pear Peach Plum Cherry Small Fruit Blackberry Blueberry Gooseberry Raspberry Strawberry 11

12 Pollen Protein collect on corbicula or pollen basket Mixed with nectar to bind into pellet Deposited into cells by foragers Packed into cells by house bees who add a little honey (helps with preservation) = Bee Bread! 12

13 Pollen Many Different Colors Protein in bees diet Worker bees tend to collect pollen from one source each trip from the hive Complete Pollination may take up to 16 bee visits to each flower 13

14 Four Parts of a Flower 1. Pistil - Female Reproductive Structure Stigma top to trap pollen grains Style Narrow stalk which supports Stigma Ovary Contains one or more Ovules Ovules Contains one egg which will develop into a seed/ovary develops into fruit 14

15 Four Parts of a Flower 2. Stamens Male Reproductive Structure Consists of a slender stalk that supports the Anther Anther - Pollen is formed in the Anther Pollen carried from Anthers to the Pistil initiates Fertilization 15

16 Four Parts of a Flower 3. Petals Have bright colors to attract Pollinators 4. Sepals Flower s Structural Foundation 16

17 Honey Bee External Organs 17

18 Honey Bee Pollen Collection 18

19 How do Bees Collect Pollen? Body hair collects pollen Worker bees employ their antenna plus front and middle legs to comb and store pollen in hind leg pockets [Pollen Baskets] 19

20 Worker Bees Collecting Pollen 20

21 Pollination Guidelines Maximum pollen consumption by colony Healthy queen and workers bees Expanding pollen hungry brood Delay moving colonies into target crop until over 10% of target crop starts to bloom Foraging patterns to other floral sources can be a major issue Pollination Contract Defines responsibilities of grower and beekeeper 21

22 Prompt Movement of Bees is Very Disease control Important Plant bugs Rosy apple aphid 22

23 The Honey Bee 12 or more trips from the hive per day 8 foraging trips = almost 700 flowers Each trip confined to one plant flower type Interested in both nectar and pollen Preferentially visit plants with higher nectar sugar contents 23

24 Colony Strength Strong hive has 25,000 bees (brood in 6 frames) Open hive and count frames covered with bees Each deep frame has 1,300 to 1,500 bees Weak colonies may not pollinate crop effectively Normally 2 supers 24

25 Moving Bees Into A Field +10% bloom Move bees at +10% bloom on the crop to be pollinated If moved prior to bloom they may work another floral source and not pollinate the crop Move bees out just before bloom is over 25

26 Hive Location Water Source Facing E or S Not beneath trees Maximum sunlight Bees warm up earlier Below 65 F not effective pollinators 40 F bumblebees Work longer Protected from wind 15 mph to windy Elevated 6-8 inches off ground Dry bottom boards Out of grass 26

27 Recommended Hives Per Acre to Assure Good Pollination 1 Hive 1-2 Hives 2 Hives All tree fruit Cucumbers Blueberries Blackberries Gourds Almonds Raspberries Strawberries Squash Pumpkins Chestnuts *Young orchards (1 hive/5a) older orchards require more 27

28 Colony Distribution Bees usually visit flowers more thoroughly within 300 ft of the hive when bloom period is short or weather poor Place hives in groups at 500 ft intervals for max. pollination on large acreages. 7 hives/ group = 1 hive/a 13 hives/ group = 2 hives/a 28

29 Colony Distribution Cold windy springs Distribute hives throughout orchard Most flights within 150 to 200 yards of hive Under ideal conditions, crop may be set in 1 hr. There is no cure for poor pollination. The crop is reduced. 29

30 Pesticides and Honey Bees Prebloom pesticide sprays should be made before bees are brought in Remove bees from the field at the end of bloom before post bloom insecticide sprays are made 30

31 Pesticides and Honey Bees If fungicide, bactericide, herbicide or insecticide sprays must be applied during bloom, these should be made in the evening when the bees are not in the field. Some pesticides are less toxic to bees. 31

32 Almond Pollination California California grows 80% of world s almonds with 800,000 acres in production Asia including China is the world s largest customer for almonds Almond pollination requires 2 hives per acre which results in 1.6 million hives migrating into California. Over 50% of the colonies in the USA! Due to the heavy losses of honey bee colonies almond pollination contract prices have escalated to over $150/hive in

33 Acknowledgements John Strang, Univ. of Kentucky Mike Hood Clemson Retired!!! 33