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Pollination and
Pollinators
Ohio
State - Bees and Pollination
Xerces Society
Pollinator Paradise
Intl.
Pollination Systems
Horn-faced Bees
Bumblebees
Wasps and Other Pollinators
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“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what
makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what
the world needs is people who have come alive.”
-Harold Thurman Whitman |
Pollination
is in the news and rightly so. With the demise of many honey bee
colonies across the United States from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the
Pollinator Research
Act of 2007 is now before Congress to fund research, laboratories, and
more.
Diversity is important. Honey bees are incredible pollinators
and always will be. Unfortunately, relying on one source of pollination is similar to
mono crop agriculture. When afflicted by problems, a total loss can be
realized. Diversifying your pollination needs is a smart thing to do.
Adding
horn-faced bees and bumblebees to your pollination repertoire can only
enhance your fruit production. In Ohio, horn-faced bees are active from
about crocus bloom until late May and are ideal for fruit trees. They
actively work all fruit trees but seem to have a special affinity to
cherries.
Supplementing the native population of bumblebees can
increase pollination success. Both the horn-faced bees and bumblebees have a
tendency to fly and forage in cooler, more inclement weather than honeybees
and that's important if the fruit bloom is on.
See the links to the left for more information. I will
do small-scale pollination (apples, cukes, melons, berries, pumpkins,
etc) in the immediate area of Lancaster as my colonies allow. Please call
well ahead of your desired time to make arrangements. Flat rate $50.00/hive.
(740) 422-9190.
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