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Re: bee friends

Bumblebees are the only Bee pollinators for purple clover. I've got honey 
bees and their one fault is that they do specialize on one flower type at 
a time regardless of what else is blooming. Blue or orchard bees have 
been given excellent rating for pollination, especially fruit trees. 
However, I encourage all the pollinators so as to cover all the 
blooms.:-)

Chris Andersen wrote:
> 
> > > Someone asked why I called the bumblebee, the champion pollinator.

> I have raised European Honey Bees for 10 years. A honey bee is a good
> pollinator and commercialy used for this purpose, due to the fact that when
> foraging they will zero in on a food source. This source is communiated
> throughout the hive and all workers will pursue the same nectar / pollen
> from the same type of flower in the area they are feeding.
> 
> The Bumble Bee on the other hand will ramble about collecting nectar /
> pollen from various sources. Squash then tomato, then pole bean. This is
> not to say that they don't do a fair job, I have seen them behave similar
> to the honey bee, but this is luck of the draw vs. genetic instinct found
> in the honey bee..
> 
> Chris
> Moraga, Calif.
> 

-- 
bloke@magi.com (Bill Loke)[Z5a] Kars, Ontario, Canada
"Experience is something you don't get until just after you needed it the 
most."
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