A comparison of pollination behaviors in bumble bees, carpenter bees, mining bees, and honey bees on apple and blueberry flowers

Fruit and vegetable agriculture is dependent on bees for pollination services.  In the present study, we examined the pollination behaviors of carpenter bees, bumble bees, mining bees, and honey bees in apple orchards and blueberry farms.  Bees were videotaped while performing pollination activities during the bloom periods in the orchard or farm.  Each bee species (group) exhibited different behaviors around the flowers. The average time spent on flowers, the number of flowers visited per clump, and other behaviors such as nectar robbing in blueberry flowers by  carpenter bees varied with each species.   Bees were  carefully captured,  placed in small capture tubes, and placed on dry ice. Pollen placement on bees and pollen load was measured.  Significant pollination differences were detected between the different species.  Pollination behaviors and a measure of pollination ability are important data scientists need to assess the importance of native bees in commercial agriculture.  The data also describe which bee species play key roles in commercial pollination.