Effectiveness of Pollination by Wild Bees as Influenced by Landscape Composition and Distance from Natural Habitat

Abstract

Honey bees have traditionally been used for crop pollination but are currently facing a population decline.

Wild bees may present a supplement or alternative to honey bee pollination.

A high diversity of pollinators ensures fruit pollination.

Wild bees may be more effective pollinators in some cases than honey bees.

However, the percent of surrounding agriculture and the distance of the crops from natural habitat may negatively affect wild bee presence.

This research sought to determine the following objectives: If wild bees could provide pollination services on par with honey bees, if pollination by wild bees varied with landscape composition, and if distance of target plants from natural habitat affected pollination by wild bees