Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T05:08:29.733Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT AND EQUIPMENT ON PRODUCTIVITY OF ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEES (HYMENOPTERA: MEGACHILIDAE) IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA, CANADA1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

K.W. Richards
K.W. Richards
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, PO Box 3000, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Four indicators of productivity and quality for the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata (Fab.), were examined over a 3-year period and the influence of different shelter designs, nesting materials, and 34 environmental variables evaluated. A higher percentage of cocoons per total cells was produced in polystyrene nesting material than in pinewood nesting material. Both nesting materials had similar percentages of tunnels capped or containing cells and total numbers of cells per hive. Shelters with conspicuous orientation patterns or silhouettes had more tunnels capped per hive, tunnels with cells, and greater total cell production per hive than did other shelter designs. The time of maximum bee production varied greatly among the 3 years. Many environmental variables, especially those associated with higher temperature, heat units, and mean actual temperature, had a significant positive effect on bee productivity and cell quality. The information contained in this study may help delineate those climatic areas where this valuable alfalfa pollinator can be most effective, and may assist beekeepers in making management decisions that will improve their operations.

Résumé

Quatre indicateurs de la productivité et de la qualité de la Découpeuse de la luzerne, Megachile rotundata (Fab.), ont été mesurés pendant une période de 3 ans et l’influence de divers types d’abris, de divers matériaux de construction des nids et de 34 variables du milieu a été évaluée. Le pourcentage de cocons par nombre total de cellules était plus élevé dans les nids construits dans du polystyrène que dans les nids construits dans du bois de pin. Les deux types de matériaux contenaient des pourcentages semblables de tunnels fermés ou contenant des cellules et des nombres semblables de cellules par ruche. Les abris à orientation ou silhouette particulières contenaient plus de tunnels fermés par ruche, plus de tunnels à cellules aussi et il s’y faisait une production totale de cellules par ruche plus élevée que dans les autres types d’abris. Le moment de production maximale des abeilles a varié considérablement d’une année à l’autre. Plusieurs variables écologiques, particulièrement les variables associées à une température élevée, à la sommation de chaleur et à la température actuelle moyenne, avaient un effet positif sur la productivité des abeilles et sur la qualité des cellules. Les informations acquises au cours de cette études permettront sans doute de délimiter les zones climatiques où ce pollinisateur de la luzerne peut être le plus efficace et aideront les propriétaires de ruches à prendre les mesures nécessaires à l’amélioration de leurs opérations.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 128 , Issue 1 , February 1996 , pp. 47 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bailey, W.G., Lerer, H., and Mills, P.F.. 1982. Humidity and the pollination activity of Megachile rotundata. Environmental Entomology 11: 1063–1066.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eves, J.D., and Johansen, C.A.. 1974. Population dynamics of larvae of alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, in eastern Washington. Washington Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 78: 1–13. Pullman, WA.Google Scholar
Hobbs, G.A. 1967. Domestication of Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bees. Agriculture Canada Publication 1313: 19 pp. Ottawa, Ont.Google Scholar
Hobbs, G.A. 1973. Alfalfa Leafcutter Bees for Pollinating Alfalfa in Western Canada. Agriculture Canada Publication 1495: 30 pp. Ottawa, Ont.Google Scholar
Klostermeyer, E.C., Mech, S.J., and Rasmussen, W.B.. 1973. Sex and weight of Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) progeny associated with provision weights. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 4: 536–548.Google Scholar
Krunic, M.D. 1972. Voltinism in Megachile rotundata (Megachilidae: Hymenoptera) in southern Alberta. The Canadian Entomologist 104: 185–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lerer, H., Bailey, W.G., Mills, P.F., and Pankiw, P.. 1982. Pollination activity of Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Apoidae). Environmental Entomology 11: 997–1000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Osgood, C.E. 1974. Relocation of nesting populations of Megachile rotundata, an important pollinator of alfalfa. Journal of Apiculture Research 13: 67–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Qingwen, Z., Richards, K.W., Luo, K., Weiwei, Z., Shaonan, L., Yuzhen, C., Hong, C., Yutang, L., Boatian, H., Qingchang, K., and Futian, M.. 1994. Introduction of alfalfa leafcutter bees (Megachile rotundata F.) to pollinate alfalfa in China. The Entomologist 113: 63–69.Google Scholar
Richards, K.W. 1978. Comparison of nesting materials used for the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile pacifica (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). The Canadian Entomologist 110: 841–846.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, K.W. 1982. Inputs, expectations, and management of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata. pp. 113–135 in Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Management, Saskatoon, Sask.281 pp.Google Scholar
Richards, K.W. 1983. Relationship of leafcutter bee cell productivity to alfalfa seed yield. pp. 449–453 in Proceedings of the Vth International Symposium on Pollination. Versaille, France. Les Colloques de I'INRA, No. 21.Google Scholar
Richards, K.W. 1984. Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee Management in Western Canada. Agriculture Canada Publication 1495: 53 pp. Ottawa, Ont.Google Scholar
Richards, K.W., and Krunic, M.D.. 1990. Introduction of alfalfa leafcutter bees to pollinate alfalfa in Yugoslavia. The Entomologist 109: 130–135.Google Scholar
SAS Institute Inc. 1985. SAS User's Guide: Statistics. Version 5. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.956 pp.Google Scholar
Sokal, R.R., and Rohlf, J.F.. 1981. Biometry, 2nd ed. W.G. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, CA. 859 pp.Google Scholar
Szabo, T.I., and Smith, M.V.. 1972. The influence of light intensity and temperature on the activity of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata under field conditions. Journal of Apiculture Research 11: 157–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tasei, J.N. 1977. Possibilité de multiplication du pollinisateur de la luzerne Megachile pacifica Panz. en France. Apidologie 8: 61–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
von Frisch, K. 1967. The Dance Language and Orientation of Bees. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.566 pp.Google Scholar
Whitfield, G.H., and Richards, K.W.. 1992. Temperature-dependent development and survival of immature stages of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Apidologie 23: 11–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar