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Blue Orchard Bees Native to California: Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination. Carolyn Pickel, UC IPM Sara Goldman Smith, UC IPM Glen Trostle, USDA Bee Lab. Project Goals. Locate and acquire wild blue orchard bees (BOBs) from CA locations Nest box building and use
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Blue Orchard Bees Native to California:Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination Carolyn Pickel, UC IPM Sara Goldman Smith, UC IPM Glen Trostle, USDA Bee Lab
Project Goals • Locate and acquire wild blue orchard bees (BOBs) from CA locations • Nest box building and use • Handling and rearing in local climate • Emergence under ambient conditions • Offspring of Native CA bees • Emergence timing without incubation • Release and re-nesting in almonds
Nest Box construction • Drilled wood blocks • Cardboard tubes • Phragmites reed sections • Others commercially available
Available pollen & nectar, blooming plants Morning sun exposure Protection from high heat Moist soil, riparian area Nest Box placement
Nest box use by wild BOBs Almond orchards, Valley floor Glenn Butte Sutter Colusa Not much nesting activity • Riparian habitat, Foothills • Butte • Elevation 400 – 1,000 ft. More nesting activity
Nest box use by wild BOBsLong term project: We still have much to learn Nesting materials preferences Handling of collected nests during delicate egg & larval stages Monitor developmental stages and record temperature data Protect nests from parasites and predators Release offspring for population increase
Emergence timing under local ambient conditions at 4 locations N.P. Full bloom Feb 23 Full bloom Mar 5?
Emergence project Successful nesting activity! Homemade release box
Free Download BOB handbook PDF file (961 k) www.sare.org/publications/bob.htm
Cooperators • Jim Cane, USDA Bee Lab, Logan Utah Emergence timing data from: • Tom Gradziel, UC Davis • Steve Peterson, AgPollen, Ceres CA • Almond Pollination Co, Bakersfield CA