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EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT AND EQUIPMENT ON PRODUCTIVITY OF ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEES (HYMENOPTERA: MEGACHILIDAE) IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA, CANADA1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

K.W. Richards
K.W. Richards
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, PO Box 3000, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1
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Abstract

Four indicators of productivity and quality for the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata (Fab.), were examined over a 3-year period and the influence of different shelter designs, nesting materials, and 34 environmental variables evaluated. A higher percentage of cocoons per total cells was produced in polystyrene nesting material than in pinewood nesting material. Both nesting materials had similar percentages of tunnels capped or containing cells and total numbers of cells per hive. Shelters with conspicuous orientation patterns or silhouettes had more tunnels capped per hive, tunnels with cells, and greater total cell production per hive than did other shelter designs. The time of maximum bee production varied greatly among the 3 years. Many environmental variables, especially those associated with higher temperature, heat units, and mean actual temperature, had a significant positive effect on bee productivity and cell quality. The information contained in this study may help delineate those climatic areas where this valuable alfalfa pollinator can be most effective, and may assist beekeepers in making management decisions that will improve their operations.

Résumé

Quatre indicateurs de la productivité et de la qualité de la Découpeuse de la luzerne, Megachile rotundata (Fab.), ont été mesurés pendant une période de 3 ans et l’influence de divers types d’abris, de divers matériaux de construction des nids et de 34 variables du milieu a été évaluée. Le pourcentage de cocons par nombre total de cellules était plus élevé dans les nids construits dans du polystyrène que dans les nids construits dans du bois de pin. Les deux types de matériaux contenaient des pourcentages semblables de tunnels fermés ou contenant des cellules et des nombres semblables de cellules par ruche. Les abris à orientation ou silhouette particulières contenaient plus de tunnels fermés par ruche, plus de tunnels à cellules aussi et il s’y faisait une production totale de cellules par ruche plus élevée que dans les autres types d’abris. Le moment de production maximale des abeilles a varié considérablement d’une année à l’autre. Plusieurs variables écologiques, particulièrement les variables associées à une température élevée, à la sommation de chaleur et à la température actuelle moyenne, avaient un effet positif sur la productivité des abeilles et sur la qualité des cellules. Les informations acquises au cours de cette études permettront sans doute de délimiter les zones climatiques où ce pollinisateur de la luzerne peut être le plus efficace et aideront les propriétaires de ruches à prendre les mesures nécessaires à l’amélioration de leurs opérations.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 128 , Issue 1 , February 1996 , pp. 47 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1996

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