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Use of mason bees for pollination in covered organic orchards

Boutry, Clémence (2022) Use of mason bees for pollination in covered organic orchards. Biofruitnet Practice Abstract. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, CH-Frick .

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Document available online at: https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/44997/


Summary in the original language of the document

Using mason bees can ensure optimal pollination in intensive fruit orchards when naturally occurring pollinators are not (yet) present or are too few.
Practical recommendations
The two most important managed wild bees for fruit crops pollination are the European orchard bee (Osmia cornuta) and the Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis), both mason bees (life cycle: see Picture 1).
Release mason bees
• Place one or more nesting boxes (Picture 2) on the inner edge and within the orchard (1 m above ground) so that they face the tree rows and can easily reach the flowers, possibly oriented south or southeast.
• Mason bees fly in a perimeter of 50-200 m, so adapt the number and placing of the nesting boxes accordingly. Around 2000 cocoons (2-3 nesting boxes) are needed to pollinate a low-stem fruit orchard of 1 ha.
• Place the overwintered cocoons in the nesting box so they are protected but can also fly out (e.g., a carton box with exit holes).
Where to get mason bees
• Subscription to mason bee rental service (check online if there is a mason bee rental service for your country, e.g., www.pollinature.net), or
• Maintain and propagate mason bees yourself.


EPrint Type:Report
Keywords:Temperate fruits, pollinators, functional biodiversity, mason bees, Biofruitnet, Abacus, FiBL2507304
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
temperate fruits
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7655
English
pollinators
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6074
English
Apidae
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_865
English
biodiversity
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33949
Subjects: Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Crop husbandry > Production systems > Fruit and berries
Research affiliation: European Union > Horizon 2020 > Biofruitnet
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Crop protection > Functional agrobiodiversity
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Special crops > Fruit
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number:862850
Deposited By: Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL
ID Code:45645
Deposited On:03 Mar 2023 12:50
Last Modified:11 Sep 2024 11:00
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Not peer-reviewed

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