Cherries are a valuable crop for farmers, who depend on pollinators to ensure a good yield and quality of their cherries.
However, not all pollinators are equally effective, and some may even have a synergistic effect when they work together.
A recent study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg found that pollination by more than one bee species can improve cherry harvest significantly.
Honey bees and mason bees are the best pollinators for cherries
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The researchers observed bees in 17 cherry orchards in eastern Germany, where some growers used honey bees in hives as pollinators, while others used wild mason bees.
Some orchards used both species to different extents. The researchers measured the fruit set, which is the percentage of flowers that develop into fruits, as an indicator of pollination success.
They found that the orchards with honey bees and lots of mason bees had the highest fruit set of up to 70%.
In contrast, orchards with only honey bees or only mason bees had much lower fruit set, as low as 20%.
This means that pollination by both bee species produced a synergy effect, where the combined outcome was greater than the sum of the individual effects.
The researchers also found that the weather played a role in pollination efficiency. Honey bees only become active when the temperature is above 12°C, while mason bees can cope with lower temperatures.
Therefore, having both bee species ensured that pollination could occur even when the weather was cold or variable.
Pollination by more than one bee species benefits farmers and the environment
The results of the study have important implications for cherry growers and the environment.
By using both honey bees and mason bees as pollinators, farmers can increase their cherry harvest and income, as well as reduce their dependence on external inputs, such as pesticides and fertilizers.
Moreover, by providing good nest material and habitat for mason bees, farmers can also support the conservation of these wild pollinators, which are essential for many other crops and wild plants.
The researchers suggested that farmers can attract mason bees to their orchards by providing bamboo sticks or other hollow tubes as nest material.
Mason bees are solitary and do not make honey or form colonies like honey bees. They collect pollen to feed their offspring, which they lay in individual cells inside the tubes.
The researchers also recommend planting diverse flowering plants around the orchards to provide food and shelter for both bee species.
Pollination by both bee species benefits farmers and the environment, as it increases cherry production and income, reduces external inputs, and supports biodiversity.
As of now, world experts are continuously working to guarantee the safety of every bee species to prevent them from extinction as their work is incredibly important for every living organism.
