Nesting site density and distribution affect Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) reproductive success and almond yield in a commercial orchard. Issue 6 (11th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Artz, Derek R.; Allan, Matthew J.; Wardell, Gordon I.; Pitts‐Singer, Theresa L.; Leather, Simon R.; Quicke, Donald
• Is Part Of: Insect conservation and diversity. Volume 6:Issue 6(2013)
• Page Start: 715
• Page End: 724
• Publication Date: 2013-03-11
• Subjects: Entomology -- Periodicals; Insects -- Conservation -- Periodicals; Biodiversity -- Periodicals; Insects -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.955716
• DOI: 10.1111/icad.12026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-458X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="icad12026-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <list id="icad12026-list-0001" list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>The potential of commercially managed, native blue orchard bees, <italic>Osmia lignaria</italic>, to augment honey bees in orchard pollination depends on various factors, particularly how to enhance <italic>O. lignaria</italic> retention while optimising even pollination throughout orchards by varying their stocking density and nesting site distribution.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>In 2011, we investigated how artificial nest box density and the number of cavities within nest boxes influenced <italic>O. lignaria</italic> retention and reproduction in a 61 ha almond orchard pollinated by a mixture of <italic>O. lignaria</italic> and <italic>Apis mellifera</italic> in the southern Central Valley of California. We assessed how localised <italic>O. lignaria</italic> nesting affected total nut yield.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Retention of <italic>O. lignaria</italic> females was significantly greater in orchard areas with high density nest boxes compared with areas with low density nest boxes. Females preferred to nest in high density (low cavity) nest boxes compared to low density (high cavity) nest boxes. All measures of <italic>O. lignaria</italic> reproductive success were greater in orchard areas with high density nest boxes than areas with low density nest boxes.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Localised <italic>O. lignaria</italic> foraging and nesting activity influenced nut yield by producing more nuts in orchard areas with high density nest boxes compared with low density nest boxes, although differences in nut yield just failed to meet statistical significance.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Results of this study show that the density and distribution of nest boxes for nesting <italic>O. lignaria</italic> females can strongly influence the reproductive success of an alternative, managed bee pollinator in a large production orchard.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>