Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2023
Keywords
Megachilidae; orchard bees; mason bees; pollinators; pesticides; genetic diversity; mining bees; conservation; wild bees
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the most economically important agricultural pollinator in North America, as well as being the most frequently studied bee species. Many agricultural systems, such as fruit tree orchards, benefit from having a diversity of bee species present. In this article, we present information about the types of bees that can be found in orchards and explore their mating behaviors, life cycles, genetic differences, flower preferences, and foraging activities. Many orchard-pollinating bees, including bumble bees (Bombus spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), and mining bees (Andrena spp.), are often less studied than honey bees. All bees encounter threats to their health and behavior while out foraging. The impacts and mitigation of these threats are often better understood in honey bees. This review summarizes the current knowledge of these threats to orchard bees’ health, identifies gaps in the knowledge, and discusses potential management and conservation practices.
Citation
Kline, O.; Phan, N.T.; Porras, M.F.; Chavana, J.; Little, C.Z.; Stemet, L.; Acharya, R.S.; Biddinger, D.J.; Reddy, G.V.P.; Rajotte, E.G.; et al. Biology, Genetic Diversity, and Conservation of Wild Bees in Tree Fruit Orchards. Biology 2023, 12, 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010031
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.