SOLITARY LIFE AND TIMES OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEE

James H. Cane, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Utah State University, Logan, Utah

BLUE ORCHARD BEEOsmia lignariaTranscontinentalOne spring generation per yearNon-social138 other Osmia in U.S.

-

45 F

pollen load

stigma

pistil

POLLINATION

PHILOSOPHY OF USING BLUE ORCHARD BEES FOR POLLINATION

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

RentalRentalDisposableDisposable

OwnershipOwnership(sustainable mngmt)(sustainable mngmt)

MOBILITY

Fixed in seasonFixed in seasonMigratoryMigratory

ImmobileImmobile

REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL

BEE HUSBANDRYKNOW YOUR BEEKNOW YOUR BEEOPTIMIZE SEASONAL TIMINGOPTIMIZE SEASONAL TIMINGPROVIDE FOR FORAGEPROVIDE FOR FORAGEMINIMIZE DISEASE AND PESTSMINIMIZE DISEASE AND PESTS

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEE

CREATIONCREATIONEGG stageEGG stage

66--9 days9 daysdelicatedelicateunfertilized boysunfertilized boys

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEE

FEEDING & GROWTHFEEDING & GROWTHLARVA 9LARVA 9--21 days21 daysImmobile (keep on provision)Immobile (keep on provision)Prone to pestilenceProne to pestilence

sons daughters

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEETRANSITIONTRANSITION

PREPUPA (in cocoon)PREPUPA (in cocoon)Stage most bees winter overStage most bees winter overTough (OK to move)Tough (OK to move)OsmiaOsmia summering stagesummering stage-- 22--4+ weeks, CA diapause4+ weeks, CA diapause

Preserving

fat

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEE

TRANSFORMATIONTRANSFORMATIONPUPAPUPA-- 33--7 weeks7 weeksdelicatedelicateNo bee overwinters No bee overwinters at this stageat this stage

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEE

ADULT BEEADULT BEEwinters over for months winters over for months ready to go in spring, ready to go in spring, active active 22--3 weeks3 weekssexes disperse, matesexes disperse, matefemale also female also prepares nest, prepares nest, forages, lays forages, lays eggs and moreeggs and more

LIFE CYCLE OF THE BLUE ORCHARD BEE

egg

larv

a

prepupa

pupa

Wintering

adult

SPRING

FALL

Pre-wintering

adult

Flying

adult

Immature stages

Adult stages

FLORAL RELATIONSTaxonomic Generalist- in nature…

Photo Wayne Padgett

Hydrophyllumwillows redbud

Collinsia

SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGEDuration of bloom < longevity of BOBsExcessive bad weatherUnfortunate timing of release

SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGE-EARLYYoung females for egg developmentEmergence precedes orchard bloom

AlmondAlmond Flowering quinceFlowering quince-10x nectar sugar- 2-3x the pollen

1 BOB = pollen produced by 40-60 flowers

SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGE- LATETardy or old femalesExtends nesting after orchard bloomHoney bees will mob these

CUES OF SEASONALITY

Generation cues – one, or more?Developmental transition cuesDay-length versus thermal cuesSynchronization with host bloom

FRUIT TREE &BEE DORMANCY

autumn winter spring

chill houraccumulation

coldacclimation

growingdegreedays

Dormancy

WA

UT

?

TRAP-NESTINGNortherly areas

Owner permitImport CA

CDFA permitNo mix CA bees

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENTprincipal with interest

Principal comes from wild trappingstart with bees trap-nested from the wild

e.g. 750,000 BOBs from n UT, se ID this yearInterest comes from good management

multiply bees in orchard / forage cropsurviving daughters > mothers released1.5 - 3x realistic most years after first

PESTILENCE & MALADIESProvision, larva most vulnerableInsect cleptoparasites and predators, mites, fungi, bacteria, probably virusShare with honey bees, bumblebees?Insecticide (fungicide?) sensitivityStart with clean populations

Orchard advantagesProgram of hygenic nest management

“Weight of Too Many Blue Orchard Bees Results in Limb Breakage”

-Sacramento Bee 30 February 2009

CENTRAL PLACE FORAGERlearns local visual landmarks around nestnavigates by landmarks, sunoptimal foraging and flight distancepoor at later resetting nest orientation cuesprospect for migratory beekeeping with BOB