Research could help bumblebee hives to live longer
Aproject backed by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), is researchingways to protect the long-term sustainability ofNewZealand horticulture, includinghowto enhance the performance of bumblebee hives using pheromones.
Dr Gunjan Gera of Gourmet WaiukuLimited is leading the project, supported by consultant Dr Jo Stephens.
“Bumblebees were often used for pollination in berryfruit crops, glasshouses, and other covered crop areas, as the bees tended to travel only about 200 metres from their hives,” says Gunjan.
“Bumblebees also didn’t mind enclosed spaces, unlike honeybees, which preferred to fly to flowers further afield.
“In the field, the queen bumblebee of a commercial hive lives for approximately 8-10 weeks and the hive winds downonce the queen dies.
“With fewerworker bees, the hives could appear less activewhencompared to honeybees, and there could be variation in vigour and productiveness.
“Our projectwill study various factors and compounds in conjunction with the bumblebee queens to see ifwecan extend the life of ahive to at least 12-18 weeks. If this works, wehave away of complementing nature, using a pheromone substitute.”
Jo says the technologywas in its infancy overseas and commercial companies using it hadn’t releasedmuch information yet.
“We’re hoping to lead the wayinNewZealand, but itwill involve a good deal of trial and error given the limited progress globally in this area.”
She explained that bumblebees were introduced toNewZealand from the United Kingdom by the early pioneers, so therewaslimited
genetic diversity.
“Although commercial breeders incorporatednew genetic diversity from the wild occasionally, the gene pool waslimited,” says Jo.
“Another important part of the research would be screening bumblebees for diseases, including those associated with inbreeding.
“We’ll be looking at the levels of inbreeding inNew Zealand populations to see if this is amajor concern, and whetherwe need to consider the possibility of importing bumblebee genetics.”
MPIwascontributing $160,000 towards the $400,000 project through its Sustainable Food& Fibre Futures (SFFFutures) fund.
MPIInvestment Programmes director Steve Penno said the project could help increase the productivity of bumblebee hives dramatically.
“Enhancing bumblebee activity wouldmeanbetter pollination for growers, which meanshigher yields and better quality produce.”
Aswell as the bumblebee research, the projectwould also look at developing technology to rear Limonicus predatory mites.
This mite waseffective in controlling thrips, whiteflies, and other mites in greenhouses and protected culture systems.
While it occurred naturally inNewZealand, itwas currently only reared overseas andwasre-imported forNewZealand growers.
“This is expensive, timeconsuming, and there’s always the risk of supply shortages,” said Gunjan.
“Ifwecan successfully rear these mites for production and release them inNewZealand it will be far more costeffective to control pests.”