Research

18 pages, 35930 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango

by Blaire M. Kleiman, Suzanne Koptur and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran

Insects 2021, 12(12), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12121114 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 12541

Agriculture is dependent on insect pollination, yet in areas of intensive production agriculture, there is often a decline in plant and insect diversity. As native habitats and plants are replaced, often only the weeds or unwanted vegetation persist. This study compared insect diversity [...] Read more.

Agriculture is dependent on insect pollination, yet in areas of intensive production agriculture, there is often a decline in plant and insect diversity. As native habitats and plants are replaced, often only the weeds or unwanted vegetation persist. This study compared insect diversity on mango, Mangifera indica, a tropical fruit tree dependent on insect pollination, when weeds were present in cultivation versus when they were removed mechanically. The pollinating insects on both weeds and mango trees were examined as well as fruit set and yield in both the weed-free and weedy treatment in South Florida. There were significantly more pollinators and key pollinator families on the weedy mango trees, as well as significantly greater fruit yield in the weedy treatment compared to the weed-free treatment. Utilizing weeds, especially native species, as insectary plants can help ensure sufficient pollination of mango and increase biodiversity across crop monocropping systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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13 pages, 3117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oilseed Rape Shares Abundant and Generalized Pollinators with Its Co-Flowering Plant Species

by Amibeth Thompson, Valentin Ștefan and Tiffany M. Knight

Insects 2021, 12(12), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12121096 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2338

Abstract

Mass-flowering crops, such as Oilseed Rape (OSR), provide resources for pollinators and benefit from pollination services. Studies that observe the community of interactions between plants and pollinators are critical to understanding the resource needs of pollinators. We observed pollinators on OSR and wild [...] Read more.

Mass-flowering crops, such as Oilseed Rape (OSR), provide resources for pollinators and benefit from pollination services. Studies that observe the community of interactions between plants and pollinators are critical to understanding the resource needs of pollinators. We observed pollinators on OSR and wild plants in adjacent semi-natural areas in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany to quantify (1) the co-flowering plants that share pollinators with OSR, (2) the identity and functional traits of plants and pollinators in the network module of OSR, and (3) the identity of the plants and pollinators that act as network connectors and hubs. We found that four common plants share a high percentage of their pollinators with OSR. OSR and these plants all attract abundant pollinators in the community, and the patterns of sharing were not more than would be expected by chance sampling. OSR acts as a module hub, and primarily influences the other plants in its module that have similar functional traits. However, the plants that most influence the pollination of OSR have different functional traits and are part of different modules. Our study demonstrates that supporting the pollination of OSR requires the presence of semi-natural areas with plants that can support a high abundances of generalist pollinators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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13 pages, 491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Efficiency of Native Insect Pollinators in Reproductive Performance of Medicago sativa L. in Pakistan

by Abdur Rauf, Shafqat Saeed, Mudssar Ali and Muhammad Hammad Nadeem Tahir

Insects 2021, 12(11), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111029 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2337

Abstract

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a cross-pollinated crop and requires entomophilous pollination for tripping of flowers and subsequent pod and seed set. To discover the best pollinators for lucerne seed production, a two-year field trial was carried out at the research farm [...] Read more.

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a cross-pollinated crop and requires entomophilous pollination for tripping of flowers and subsequent pod and seed set. To discover the best pollinators for lucerne seed production, a two-year field trial was carried out at the research farm of MNS University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan. Abundance and diversity of insect pollinators along with the foraging behavior were recorded in terms of tripping efficiency, stay time, visitation rate and pollen harvest. The single-visit efficiency of abundant insect pollinators was also evaluated in terms of number of seeds and seed weight per raceme along with germination percentage. Ten most abundant floral visitors (five solitary bee species, three honeybee species and two syrphid fly species) were tested for their pollination efficiency. Honeybees were most abundant in both the years followed by the solitary bees and syrphid flies. Single-visit efficacy in terms of number of pods per raceme, number of seeds per raceme, 1000 seed weight and germination percentage revealed Megachile cephalotes as the most efficient insect pollinator followed by Megachile hera and Amegilla sp. Future studies should investigate the biology and ecology of these bee species with special emphasis on their nesting behavior and seasonality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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16 pages, 4028 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crop and Semi-Natural Habitat Configuration Affects Diversity and Abundance of Native Bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in a Large-Field Cotton Agroecosystem

by Isaac L. Esquivel, Katherine A. Parys, Karen W. Wright, Micky D. Eubanks, John D. Oswald, Robert N. Coulson and Michael J. Brewer

Insects 2021, 12(7), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070601 - 01 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2270

Abstract

The cotton agroecosystem is one of the most intensely managed, economically and culturally important fiber crops worldwide, including in the United States of America (U.S.), China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil. The composition and configuration of crop species and semi-natural habitat can have significant [...] Read more.

The cotton agroecosystem is one of the most intensely managed, economically and culturally important fiber crops worldwide, including in the United States of America (U.S.), China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil. The composition and configuration of crop species and semi-natural habitat can have significant effects on ecosystem services such as pollination. Here, we investigated the local-scale effect of crop and semi-natural habitat configuration in a large field (>200 ha in size) cotton agroecosystem on the diversity and abundance of native bees. The interfaces sampled included cotton grown next to cotton, sorghum or semi-natural habitat along with a natural habitat comparator. Collections of native bees across interface types revealed 32 species in 13 genera across 3 families. Average species richness metrics ranged between 20.5 and 30.5, with the highest (30.5) at the interface of cotton and semi-natural habitat. The most abundant species was Melissodes tepaneca Cresson (>4000 individuals, ~75% of bees collected) with a higher number of individuals found in all cotton–crop interfaces compared to the cotton interface with semi-natural habitat or natural habitat alone. It was also found that interface type had a significant effect on the native bee communities. Communities of native bees in the cotton–crop interfaces tended to be more consistent in species richness and abundance. While cotton grown next to semi-natural habitat had higher species richness, the number of bees collected varied. These data suggest that native bee communities persist in large-field cotton agroecosystems. Selected species dominate (i.e., M. tepaneca) and thrive in this large-field cotton system where cotton–crop interfaces are key local landscape features. These data have implications for potential pollination benefits to cotton production. The findings also contribute to a discussion regarding the role of large-field commercial cotton growing systems in conserving native bees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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14 pages, 1280 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Complementary Contribution of Wild Bumblebees and Managed Honeybee to the Pollination Niche of an Introduced Blueberry Crop

by Marcos Miñarro and Daniel García

Insects 2021, 12(7), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070595 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

The entomophilous pollination niche (abundance, phenotypic traits, foraging behaviours and environmental tolerances of insect pollinators) helps to understand and better manage crop pollination. We apply this niche approach to assess how an entomophilous crop (blueberry, Vaccinium ashei) can be expanded into new [...] Read more.

The entomophilous pollination niche (abundance, phenotypic traits, foraging behaviours and environmental tolerances of insect pollinators) helps to understand and better manage crop pollination. We apply this niche approach to assess how an entomophilous crop (blueberry, Vaccinium ashei) can be expanded into new territories (i.e., northern Spain) far from their original area of domestication (North America). Insect visits to blueberry flowers were monitored in a plantation on 12 different days, at 8 different times during day and covering various weather conditions. Abundance, visitation rate, pollen gathering behaviour, and frequency of inter-plant and inter-row movements were recorded. The pollinator assemblage was basically composed of one managed honeybee species (50.8% of visits) and three native bumblebee species (48.3%). There was a marked pattern of seasonal segregation throughout bloom, with bumblebees dominating the early bloom and honeybee the late bloom. Pollinators also segregated along gradients of daily temperature and relative humidity. Finally, the two pollinator types differed in foraging behaviour, with bumblebees having a visitation rate double that of honeybee, collecting pollen more frequently and changing plant and row more frequently. The spatio-temporal and functional complementarity between honeybee and bumblebees suggested here encourages the consideration of an integrated crop pollination strategy for blueberries, based on the concurrence of both wild and managed bees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

37 pages, 5267 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Impacts of Wildflower Interventions on Beneficial Insects in Fruit Crops: A Review

by Michelle T. Fountain

Insects 2022, 13(3), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13030304 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5992

Abstract

Integrated pest management (IPM) has been practiced by the fruit industry for at least 30 years. Naturally occurring beneficial insects have been encouraged to thrive alongside introduced predatory insects. However, Conservation Biological Control (CBC) and augmented biocontrol through the release of large numbers [...] Read more.

Integrated pest management (IPM) has been practiced by the fruit industry for at least 30 years. Naturally occurring beneficial insects have been encouraged to thrive alongside introduced predatory insects. However, Conservation Biological Control (CBC) and augmented biocontrol through the release of large numbers of natural enemies is normally only widely adopted when a pest has become resistant to available conventional pesticides and control has begun to break down. In addition, the incorporation of wild pollinator management, essential to fruit production, has, in the past, not been a priority but is now increasingly recognized through integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM). This review focuses on the impacts on pest regulation and pollination services in fruit crops through the delivery of natural enemies and pollinating insects by provisioning areas of fruiting crops with floral resources. Most of the studies in this review highlighted beneficial or benign impacts of floral resource prevision to fruit crops. However, placement in the landscape and spill-over of beneficial arthropods into the crop can be influential and limiting. This review also highlights the need for longer-term ecological studies to understand the impacts of changing arthropod communities over time and the opportunity to tailor wildflower mixes to specific crops for increased pest control and pollination benefits, ultimately impacting fruit growers bottom-line with less reliance on pesticides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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23 pages, 1284 KiB

Open AccessReview

Overview of Bee Pollination and Its Economic Value for Crop Production

by Shaden A. M. Khalifa, Esraa H. Elshafiey, Aya A. Shetaia, Aida A. Abd El-Wahed, Ahmed F. Algethami, Syed G. Musharraf, Mohamed F. AlAjmi, Chao Zhao, Saad H. D. Masry, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim, Mohammed F. Halabi, Guoyin Kai, Yahya Al Naggar, Mokhtar Bishr, Mohamed A. M. Diab and Hesham R. El-Seedi

Insects 2021, 12(8), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12080688 - 31 Jul 2021

Cited by 128 | Viewed by 34507

Abstract

Pollination plays a significant role in the agriculture sector and serves as a basic pillar for crop production. Plants depend on vectors to move pollen, which can include water, wind, and animal pollinators like bats, moths, hoverflies, birds, bees, butterflies, wasps, thrips, and [...] Read more.

Pollination plays a significant role in the agriculture sector and serves as a basic pillar for crop production. Plants depend on vectors to move pollen, which can include water, wind, and animal pollinators like bats, moths, hoverflies, birds, bees, butterflies, wasps, thrips, and beetles. Cultivated plants are typically pollinated by animals. Animal-based pollination contributes to 30% of global food production, and bee-pollinated crops contribute to approximately one-third of the total human dietary supply. Bees are considered significant pollinators due to their effectiveness and wide availability. Bee pollination provides excellent value to crop quality and quantity, improving global economic and dietary outcomes. This review highlights the role played by bee pollination, which influences the economy, and enlists the different types of bees and other insects associated with pollination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

7 pages, 1823 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Where Is the Honey Bee Queen Flying? The Original Case of a Foraging Queen

by Ignazio Floris, Michelina Pusceddu, Pietro Niolu and Alberto Satta

Insects 2021, 12(11), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111035 - 17 Nov 2021

Viewed by 4029

Abstract

During a bee fauna survey in the countryside of northern Sardinia, a honey bee queen (Apis mellifera L.) was detected while foraging on a borage (Borago officinalis L.) flower in Uri, Province of Sassari, Italy, most likely during an orientation flight [...] Read more.

During a bee fauna survey in the countryside of northern Sardinia, a honey bee queen (Apis mellifera L.) was detected while foraging on a borage (Borago officinalis L.) flower in Uri, Province of Sassari, Italy, most likely during an orientation flight before mating. Morphological details, detectable from photos with the naked eye and stereomicroscopic observations, confirmed that the honey bee queen was sucking nectar from a flower. The enormous development of the abdomen, lack of pollen-collecting structures in the legs and other characteristics such as the typical distally bilobed shape of the mandibles, with long hairs on their outer surface, proved the structural differences between the queen specimen and the other castes of bees. The queen’s proboscis, which is shorter compared to the workers, may have been counterbalanced by the shape and nectar production of the borage flower. This new observation proves that the queen can feed herself under natural conditions, likely to obtain the energy required for flying. Although we cannot exclude disturbing factors that could explain this foraging behaviour of a queen observed for the first time, this note opens a new scenario and discusses this new finding in the context of the available literature on the queen’s behaviour and questions to be answered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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20 pages, 2311 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Towards Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management in Intensive Pear Cultivation: A Case Study from Belgium

by Tim Belien, Stijn Raymaekers, Maxime Eeraerts, Veerle Mommaerts, Gregor Claus, Christian Bogen, Niels Piot, Guy Smagghe, Pieter Spanoghe and Dany Bylemans

Insects 2021, 12(10), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12100901 - 02 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3373

Abstract

Recently, the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was further extended into Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM). Implementation of IPPM strategies entails the combination of actions for pest and pollinator management providing complementary or synergistic benefits for yield and/or quality of the [...] Read more.

Recently, the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was further extended into Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM). Implementation of IPPM strategies entails the combination of actions for pest and pollinator management providing complementary or synergistic benefits for yield and/or quality of the harvest. The aim of this study was to examine IPPM elements (i.e., mixed hedgerow, nesting boxes for mason bees, Osmia spp.) and demonstrate their impact in the practical context of modern commercial fruit cultivation in a 4-year case study in an intensive ‘Conference’ pear orchard. The outcomes of visual observations during transect walks and molecular analysis of pollen collected by mason bees, showed the importance of additional floral resources for the presence of mason bees and other pollinating insects in the orchard environment. Pear quality assessments indicated that insect-mediated pollination had a significant positive impact, with a tendency for higher quality pears in the close vicinity of Osmia nesting boxes. However, despite the fact that pear pollen was also detected in Osmia spp. nest cells, the amount and frequency of pear pollen collection for their nest built-up turned out to be rather low. In the same intensive pear orchard studied for pollination effects, we simultaneously demonstrate the impact of a mixed hedgerow to enhance integrated pest control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Diversity in Sustainable Agroecosystems)

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