A Hive Entrance System That Directs Honey Bees Inside or Outside a Greenhouse Reduced Colony Decline While Effectively Pollinating Zucchini Squash

Cássia R. A. Gomes, Mateus A. M. Batista, Yara M. M. Ferraz, Matheus F. Trivellato, Gustavo A. Siniscalchi, Gustavo V. Polycarpo, Everlon C. Rigobelo, David De Jong and Daniel Nicodemo ()
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Cássia R. A. Gomes: Post Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14998-900 São Paulo, Brazil
Mateus A. M. Batista: Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Technology Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Dracena, 17915-899 São Paulo, Brazil
Yara M. M. Ferraz: Post Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14998-900 São Paulo, Brazil
Matheus F. Trivellato: Post Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14998-900 São Paulo, Brazil
Gustavo A. Siniscalchi: Post Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14998-900 São Paulo, Brazil
Gustavo V. Polycarpo: Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Technology Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Dracena, 17915-899 São Paulo, Brazil
Everlon C. Rigobelo: Department of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14998-900 São Paulo, Brazil
David De Jong: Genetics Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 São Paulo, Brazil
Daniel Nicodemo: Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14998-900 São Paulo, Brazil

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-9

Abstract: Honey bee colonies rapidly decline when confined to greenhouses, increasing pollination rental costs as they need to be replaced frequently. We tested a hive system with entrances that can be manipulated to direct bees inside or outside greenhouses containing a zucchini crop. In one greenhouse, the bees could only forage inside for 15 days; in another, bees were directed to the inside from 5 to 9 a.m., after which they only foraged outside. This procedure was repeated two more times in each greenhouse with new hives. Data were collected on how the number of bee flower visits affected fruit production, the frequency of flower visits, and the amount of bee brood and food in the hives. Flowers visited by bees four times or more set more and larger fruit. The frequency of flower visits by bees from the hives confined to the greenhouse was reduced after eight days; it was not reduced in the greenhouse with bees that could forage outside. The bee brood area was reduced in the colonies that were confined to the greenhouse, while it was maintained in the semi-confined hives. The hives with controllable entrances proved effective for pollination, while causing less damage to the bees.

Keywords: brood; honey; pollen; fruit set; protected cultivation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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