Understanding and Managing for Native Pollinators in Almond Systems Kitty Bolte [email protected] Wild bee pollination at UC Davis • Dr. Neal Williams • Wild bee contributions to crop pollination • Landscape effects on wild bee communities • Effects of habitat enhancement on bees and pollination • Plant choice for creation of bee habitat • Other impacts of pollinator enhancement, e.g. pests/beneficial insects Talk Overview • What are native bees? • Why and how are native bees important to almond pollination? • Managing orchards to support alternative pollinators • Alternative Managed Bees: the Blue Orchard Bee • Establishing pollinator habitat to support native bees What Are Native Bees? • Bees that originate in CA • Does NOT include Honey Bee, which is from Europe • ~ 1500 species of native bees in CA, ~450 in Sac Valley Honey Bees: Native Bees: • Many species • 1 species • Typically Solitary • Social • Many nest in twigs, • Live in Hives hollow stems, or • Produce Honey underground Diversity of almond pollinators Bumble bee Digger bee Spring bee Long horned bee Blue orchard bee Other mason bee Slide credit: K Ward Hairy-leg bee Small dark bee Tiny dark bee Why are native bees important in an almond system? Nut Yield and Quality Slide credit: K Ward Why are native bees important in an almond system? Nut Yield and Pollination Quality Slide credit: K Ward Why are native bees important in an almond system? Number of Bees Nut Yield = X and Pollination Quality Pollination per bee Diagram: K Ward Necessity of outcrossing Native Bee Potential • Increasing concerns about honey bee availability and health • Synergistic effects: make honey bees more efficient pollinators • Fly in worse weather conditions Dr. Claire Brittain