Recent studies conducted in Belgium and Germany have highlighted the crucial role of wild bees, such as bumblebees and mason bees, in enhancing the pollination efficiency of honeybees in sweet cherry orchards. This research reveals that wild bees are not only excellent pollinators but also significantly improve the pollination performance of honeybees, thus providing a double benefit.
In orchards, particularly in sweet cherry orchards, cross-pollination is essential for fruit production. This process requires pollen transfer between compatible cultivars, often planted in different rows. Insects that frequently move between the rows increase the chances of successful cross-pollination.
Honeybees, known for their methodical foraging habits, tend to visit flowers on the same tree, which limits their effectiveness in cross-pollination. In contrast, wild bees such as bumblebees and mason bees exhibit more erratic foraging patterns, often changing trees and rows, thereby improving pollination.
The Belgian study focused on sweet cherry trees and observed the interaction between bumblebees and honeybees. The presence of bumblebees, particularly wild queens, was found to significantly influence honeybees’ behavior; they increased the row-switching frequency by ten times. Additionally, honeybees' flower visitation rate per minute also rose with the number of bumblebees around.
This behavior modification can potentially increase the pollination efficiency of honeybees, leading to greater fruit set. Similarly, research conducted in Germany examined the relationship between honeybee numbers and cherry fruit set in orchards with varying populations of mason bees.
Image 1.
The study found a positive correlation between the number of honeybees and fruit set, but only in orchards with high mason bee populations. In orchards with fewer mason bees, this positive relationship was absent. The results suggest that mason bees, like bumblebees, alter honeybee behavior, enhancing their pollination efficiency.
These studies underscore the importance of conserving wild bee populations in and around orchards. Wild bees not only contribute directly to pollination but also amplify the contribution of honeybees. This dual role underscores the value of conservation and implementation of measures to support wild bee populations.
Strategies such as planting mixed hedgerows and allowing wild herbaceous plants to bloom at field margins provide nesting opportunities for mason bees and other wild bees. By creating a favorable environment for wild bees, growers can reduce their reliance on honeybees alone, ensuring more stable and effective pollination services.
The synergistic effect of wild bees on the pollination performance of honeybees has profound implications for agricultural practices and fruit production. Promoting wild bees conservation and management can lead to improvements in yield and quality. Integrating wild bee support into agricultural landscapes represents a promising strategy for enhancing pollination services and ensuring the sustainability of orchards.
Source: Eeraerts, Maxime & Osterman, Julia. (2024). Wild bees improve honeybees' pollination contribution.
Image: Orto da coltivare
Andrea Giovannini
University of Bologna (IT)
15 Mar 2024
In agronomic terms, Marysa® had attributes that were in some cases superior to the Sweet® varieties, in terms of rusticity and productivity, high harvest yields and fruit size. The variety spread not only in its area of origin, but also in the Verona area.
04 Aug 2023
In the January-April period, the monitoring network of the E. Mach Foundation detected catches of Drosophila suzukii up to ten times higher than the average of the last decade. This explains the intensity of the attack recorded on the cherry crop since the last ten days of May.
06 Mar 2026
In Chile, the world leader in cherry exports, an INIA study analyzes the evolution of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in commercial orchards. The research highlights local adaptation and copper resistance as key factors for integrated management and sustainable production.
06 Mar 2026
Tart cherries, rich in melatonin, tryptophan and polyphenols, may improve sleep and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. A review of seven clinical studies analyzed effects on sleep duration, efficiency and biomarkers, with promising but not consistent results.
