Honey Bee Visit Numbers and Watermelon Pollination1

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Abstract
Honey bee, Apis mellifera L., visits to watermelon flowers were mechanically controlled to determine how many were needed to pollinate a single flower. Although there was some fruit development even after only 1 visit, 8 visits were considered the minimum required for normal development. A method of measuring field bee activity in terms of visits per flower per hour and factors in distribution of pollen on the flower by bees are discussed. There was a positive relationship between fruit set and ovary length. Fruit set following bee visitation generally increased from 6 to 9 AM and from 6 to 10 AM following hand pollination. According to the method of measurement used, field bee populations exceeded the minimum necessary for fruit set in 2 years of observation. Honey bees were used at the rate of 1 colony per acre.

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