Using biodiversity to stimulate wild bees in the orchard (BIOFRUITNET Practice Abstract)

Summary in the original language of the document

Utilising different types of pollinators in the orchard can improve fruit yield and quality.
Practical recommendations
• Mason bees fly at lower temperatures and in worse weather conditions than honey bees
• When you have your own mason bees, place nest boxes and cocoons in the orchard two weeks before fruit blossom.
• Provide an orchard with flowering trees and shrubs, and perennial or annual flowers during the whole season
• For mason bees especially early flowering is important, before and after the blossom period
• Mason bees' males hatch earlier than females. Make sure there are flowers in the orchard for the males’ flight.
• Early flowering trees and shrubs are: haselnut, willow, yellow dogwood and Prunus
• Early flowering bulbs that are attractive for mason bees are grape hyacinth and siberian squill.
• Early spontaneous flowers that are frequently visited by mason bees are dandelion, lungwort, lesser celandine, ground ivy, coltsfoot and common field-speedwell