Improving Pollination in the Southwest: Testing the on farm feasibility of establishing and managing the carpenter bee for multiple crop farming systems

Improving Pollination in the Southwest: Testing the on farm feasibility of establishing and managing the carpenter bee for multiple crop farming systems

Summary

Pollination, an essential process insuring the productivity of agricultural yields is currently under threat by a myriad of causes, ranging from habitat fragmentation to the overuse of pesticides. Habitats for wild bees (the most diverse and important group responsible for crop pollination) can be improved on and around farms to increase pollination services and prevent potential losses in crop yields. The native southern Arizona carpenter bee, a potential crop pollinator, is being tested on two farms, representative of the small economically diversified agricultural operations found throughout the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. These farms are typically under 40 acres and grow a wide range of crops, ranging from melons, multiple varieties of squash, tomatoes chiles and eggplant. Much of this produce is sold on a very local scale at farmers markets or at roadside stands. Farmers have often used the services of beekeepers to have honeybees pollinate their crops, but due to both the infestation of mites and the invasion of africanized bees many beekeepers have gotten out of the business. Many farmers who may have kept honey bees have also ceased this activity due to the increased risk of getting Africanized bee colonies. Thus, there is a gap in pollination services needed to produce good crops. Many bees native to the southwest can potentially be used as crop pollinators. We are developing techniques/protocols that consist of rearing, housing and managing the carpenter bee. Carpenter bees are large-bodied jet black bees that can be found throughout most of the United States. Species in the eastern United States are sometimes responsible for damage to wooden structures, typically old barns or the wooden eaves of old houses. Species in the southwestern United States typically nest in plants in natural habitat that often occurs near farmland. Based on our observations carpenter bees visit and pollinate a wide variety of crops grown on small farms in the southwestern United States. In combination of creating habitat and managing bee houses farmers can guarantee that their crops will get pollinated, resulting in bigger better vegetable and fruit production.

The techniques we are developing can be replicated for carpenter bees found around the globe and on a more general level can be applied to other potential crop pollinators.

Objectives/Performance Targets

In the 2002 field season we translocated active nests from the wild to the farm fields. These populations are acting as the founder groups. We have improved this method by using artificial nest structures which will be more durable.

We have constructed multiple types of nest structures and continue to improve the design to meet the following criteria, reusability, inexpensive material, observability, and Plexiglass, balsa wood, redwood, discarded lumber, discarded plant materials.

We are still working on the plastic laminate 8×14 sheet that can be taken into the field and has color photos of the most common native pollinators that can be found in
We are currently developing an easy to understand guide on collecting, raising and rearing carpenter bees for use in farm pollination. The guide will also include information on how to enhance the habitat surrounding farms to benefit carpenter bees and other pollinators by planting beneficial host plants.

We continue to raise captive colonies of carpenter bees since last summer in laboratory conditions. Captive raising will enable us to create a care guide for farmers/producers interested in using carpenter bees as pollinators. We will also include detailed instructions on how to construct artificial nests out of common supplies, utilizing either discarded lumber or even discarded landscape material.

We successfully conducted several translocation experiments in the year 2002. We translocated carpenter bees to the NSS farm and to the University of Arizona hydroponic greenhouse facility. In the greenhouse facility the carpenter bees are coexisting with managed bumblebees.

Work was not conducted on Tubac Farms in 2002. Mark Larkin is a member of the US Army Reserves and was called to duty. For this reason he did not plant any crops for the 2002 season. We have kept Mark up to date on the research and he continues to be interested in the results.

Observations were conducted on the carpenter bee nests in the field season of 2002. We have been using the field logger device to record data on the activity of carpenter bees. This field logger device is still being tested in the greenhouse system which enables us to monitor and download the data more immeadiately.

Accomplishments/Milestones

In the 2002 field season we translocated active nests from the wild to the farm fields. These populations are acting as the founder groups. We have improved this method by using artificial nest structures which will be more durable.

We have constructed multiple types of nest structures and continue to improve the design to meet the following criteria, reusability, inexpensive material, observability, and Plexiglass, balsa wood, redwood, discarded lumber, discarded plant materials.

We are still working on the plastic laminate 8×14 sheet that can be taken into the field and has color photos of the most common native pollinators that can be found in
We are currently developing an easy to understand guide on collecting, raising and rearing carpenter bees for use in farm pollination. The guide will also include information on how to enhance the habitat surrounding farms to benefit carpenter bees and other pollinators by planting beneficial host plants.

We continue to raise captive colonies of carpenter bees since last summer in laboratory conditions. Captive raising will enable us to create a care guide for farmers/producers interested in using carpenter bees as pollinators. We will also include detailed instructions on how to construct artificial nests out of common supplies, utilizing either discarded lumber or even discarded landscape material.

We successfully conducted several translocation experiments in the year 2002. We translocated carpenter bees to the NSS farm and to the University of Arizona hydroponic greenhouse facility. In the greenhouse facility the carpenter bees are coexisting with managed bumblebees.

Work was not conducted on Tubac Farms in 2002. Mark Larkin is a member of the US Army Reserves and was called to duty. For this reason he did not plant any crops for the 2002 season. We have kept Mark up to date on the research and he continues to be interested in the results.

Observations were conducted on the carpenter bee nests in the field season of 2002. We have been using the field logger device to record data on the activity of carpenter bees. This field logger device is still being tested in the greenhouse system which enables us to monitor and download the data more immeadiately.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

We plan to hold a workshop designed for farmers, gardeners, and greenhouse growers in the Spring of 2003.

We have expanded our target base by talking with gardeners and greenhouse producers. The Arizona greenhouse industry is fourth in the nation in production and the State legislature is very keen on expanding the industry.
Certain aspects of this project will be immediate, particularly our demonstration that the populations of beneficial organisms around farms can be enhanced through simple practices of planting beneficial plants and adding pollinator habitats that can attract target species.

Collaborators: