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Blue Orchard Bees Native to California: Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination

Blue Orchard Bees Native to California: Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination. Carolyn Pickel, UC IPM Sara Goldman Smith, UC IPM Glen Trostle, USDA Bee Lab. Project Goals. Locate and acquire wild blue orchard bees (BOBs) from CA locations Nest box building and use

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Blue Orchard Bees Native to California: Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination

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  1. Blue Orchard Bees Native to California:Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination Carolyn Pickel, UC IPM Sara Goldman Smith, UC IPM Glen Trostle, USDA Bee Lab

  2. Project Goals • Locate and acquire wild blue orchard bees (BOBs) from CA locations • Nest box building and use • Handling and rearing in local climate • Emergence under ambient conditions • Offspring of Native CA bees • Emergence timing without incubation • Release and re-nesting in almonds

  3. Nest Box construction • Drilled wood blocks • Cardboard tubes • Phragmites reed sections • Others commercially available

  4. Available pollen & nectar, blooming plants Morning sun exposure Protection from high heat Moist soil, riparian area Nest Box placement

  5. Nest box use by wild BOBs Almond orchards, Valley floor Glenn Butte Sutter Colusa Not much nesting activity • Riparian habitat, Foothills • Butte • Elevation 400 – 1,000 ft. More nesting activity

  6. Nest box use by wild BOBsLong term project: We still have much to learn Nesting materials preferences Handling of collected nests during delicate egg & larval stages Monitor developmental stages and record temperature data Protect nests from parasites and predators Release offspring for population increase

  7. Emergence timing under local ambient conditions at 4 locations N.P. Full bloom Feb 23 Full bloom Mar 5?

  8. Emergence projectButte data

  9. Emergence project Bees released in almonds

  10. Emergence project Successful nesting activity! Homemade release box

  11. Free Download BOB handbook PDF file (961 k) www.sare.org/publications/bob.htm

  12. Cooperators • Jim Cane, USDA Bee Lab, Logan Utah Emergence timing data from: • Tom Gradziel, UC Davis • Steve Peterson, AgPollen, Ceres CA • Almond Pollination Co, Bakersfield CA

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