Influence of Nest Box Color and Release Sites on <I>Osmia lignaria</I> (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) Reproductive Success in a Commercial Almond Orchard

Abstract

Intensively managed, commercial orchards offer resources for managed solitary bees within agricultural landscapes and provide a means to study bee dispersal patterns, spatial movement, nest establishment, and reproduction. In 2012, we studied the impact of 1) the color of nest boxes covaried with four nest box density treatments and 2) the number of bee release sites covaried with two nest box density treatments on the reproductive success of Osmia lignaria Say in a California almond orchard pollinated by a mixture of O. lignaria and Apis mellifera L. Nest box color influenced the number of nests, total cells, and cells with male and female brood. More nests and cells were produced in light blue nest boxes than in orange or yellow nest boxes. The covariate nest box density also had a significant effect on brood production. The number of release sites did not affect O. lignaria nesting and reproduction, but the number of cavities in nest boxes influenced reproduction. Overall, the color of nest boxes and their distribution, but not the number of release sites, can greatly affect O. lignaria nest establishment and reproductive success in a commercial almond orchard. The ability to locate nesting sites in a homogenous, large orchard landscape may also be facilitated by the higher frequency of nest boxes with low numbers of cavities, and by the ability to detect certain nest box colors that best contrast with the blooming trees.

Comparison of the Chemical Compositions of the Cuticle and Dufour’s Gland of Two Solitary Bee Species from Laboratory and Field Conditions

“…They readily live in large aggregations, a characteristic that facilitates their use of artificial cavities provided for them in agricultural settings. However, where they are used for crop pollination in the U.S., the retention of females at nest sites is far less than the number of bees released at or near those sites (Artz et al 2013, 2014; Bosch and Kemp 2001; Pitts-Singer 2013; Tepedino and Frolich 1982; Torchio 1982). The choice of individual nest cavities for establishing a new nest is attributed to attraction of nest-seeking females to odors from previously-used nests, which are preferred over those in which bees have never nested (Buttery et al 1981; Parker et al 1983; Pitts-Singer 2007; Stanley and Pitts-Singer 2011).…”

The Effect of Nest Box Distribution on Sustainable Propagation of Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Commercial Tart Cherry Orchards

“…2b) placed on the field margins of the space requiring pollination (J. Watts, personal communication). Previous studies that evaluate O. lignaria nesting in almond orchards report higher nesting rates when many nest boxes, partially filled with nest tubes, are placed uniformly throughout the orchard than when fewer nest boxes completely filled with nest tubes are uniformly provided (Artz et al 2013, 2014). Nesting preference by O. lignaria females is also affected by other physical attributes such as nest box color, height, orientation, and nest cavity diameter (Bosch et al 2000, Artz et al 2014, Boyle et al, unpublished data).…”

“…Previous studies that evaluate O. lignaria nesting in almond orchards report higher nesting rates when many nest boxes, partially filled with nest tubes, are placed uniformly throughout the orchard than when fewer nest boxes completely filled with nest tubes are uniformly provided (Artz et al 2013, 2014). Nesting preference by O. lignaria females is also affected by other physical attributes such as nest box color, height, orientation, and nest cavity diameter (Bosch et al 2000, Artz et al 2014, Boyle et al, unpublished data). Thus, nest box style and distribution are simple and relatively inexpensive modifications that can have significant impacts on O. lignaria reproduction in orchard environments (Artz et al 2013, 2014).…”

“…For example, nesting site visibility and frequency may curtail the high rates of bee dispersal away from orchards, which limits the number of in-orchard nesting females and retrieval of bee offspring for use the following year. Consequently, orchardists typically do not recover the same number of bees that they initially release (Artz et al 2013, 2014). Pollination using O. lignaria in orchards often requires that a new bee supply is purchased annually, which in most cases is not economically feasible at current costs.…”

“…Nesting preference by O. lignaria females is also affected by other physical attributes such as nest box color, height, orientation, and nest cavity diameter (Bosch et al 2000, Artz et al 2014, Boyle et al, unpublished data). Thus, nest box style and distribution are simple and relatively inexpensive modifications that can have significant impacts on O. lignaria reproduction in orchard environments (Artz et al 2013, 2014). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of O. lignaria as an alternative pollinator of tart cherry orchards in Utah while also sustaining, or enhancing, in-orchard populations.…”