Effect of Synthetic Queen Mandibular Pheromone Sprays on Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Pollination of Berry Crops
- 1 August 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Economic Entomology
- Vol. 85 (4) , 1300-1306
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/85.4.1300
Abstract
Honey bee, Apis mellifera L., queen mandibular pheromone was applied to blocks of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait., and blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., by helicopter and air-blast sprayer, respectively. The number of bees attracted was both dose and crop dependent. Concentrations of 100 queen equivalents (QEQ) [AI]/ha of pheromone were most effective in attracting honey bee foragers to cranberry. On blueberry, concentrations of 100 or 1,000 QEQ [AI]/ha of pheromone were attractive to bees. Concentrations of 10,000 QEQ [AI]/ha were unattractive to bees foraging on either crop. Applications of pheromone increased yield and total revenues by up to $8,804/ha on cranberry and $986/ha on blueberry. However, the pheromone was not economical to apply under all situations.Keywords
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