Differences in native pollinator species (Hymenoptera and Diptera) in apple orchards surrounded by heavily forested verses deforested habitats

Most insect pollinators travel, on average, one mile or less to access potential sources of food. This study examines whether apple orchards with high percentages of continuously forested terrain will possess higher native insect pollinator species’ diversity and abundances. Each of the four sites selected were classified based upon the degree of fragmentation (from agricultural and/or suburban development) present within a one mile radius. Two sites, Mountain View and Hillside Orchards, had roughly 80-90% continuously forested terrain, while Mercier and Tiger Orchards were each surrounded by 50% continuously forested land. Based upon current results, it appears that the degree of fragmentation is having little, if any, effect upon the native arthropod pollinators available to each site. While abundances varied only slightly between sites, interestingly, the diversity of native pollinator species was far greater at the orchards with smaller overall areas.