Farmers with a diversity of plants on the orchard floor and orchard edge have abundant and diverse pollinator communities in their orchards, according to a recent paper co-authored by Project ICP research partner Dave Biddinger. Wild pollinators, in addition to honey bees, are important pollinators of apples in Pennsylvania. The authors also found that the landscape area of forest and edge habitats around Pennsylvania apple orchards increases the number and diversity of bees in the orchard, which may yield benefits for apple pollination. Farmers can support pollinators on their farm by planting flowering plants and maintaining forests around their orchard. Click here to read the full article.
Local plant diversity supports a diverse wild bee community in Pennsylvania apple orchards
- Orchard Bee Association Annual Pollinator Symposium and Expo
- Effects of fungicide and adjuvant sprays on nesting behavior in two managed solitary bees, Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata