Further studies on the pollination ecology of Ficus sycomorus L. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Agaonidae )

Volume: 112Start Page: 1End Page: 1

Eucalyptus erythrocoris: a source of nectar and pollen for honey bees in Israel

Eucalyptus erythrocoris F Muell blooms between July and September in Israel, when sources of nectar and pollen are scarce. A survey of E erythrocoris was conducted and the characteristics and environmental requirements of the trees in different biotopes were recorded. The flower phenology was studied and amounts of nectar secreted and nectar sugar concentrations determined. During the 4 days of its bloom, a single flower secretes 4 ml of nectar, which contain nearly half a gram of sugar. There was a high correlation between the foraging behaviour of the honey bees and the stages of nectar secretion and pollen release. Thus, it was concluded that, in addition to its nectar contribution, this tree is an important source of pollen. For this reason, together with its beautiful flowers and its environmental requirements, E erythrocoris is recommended as an ornamental tree in Israel

The influence of hive location on honeybee foraging activity and fruit set in melons grown in plastic greenhouses

Melon (Cucumis melo L) is a very important winter crop in Israel, especially in the extremely hot Arava Valley. The melons are grown in 120 m long plastic tunnels, which creates problems in terms of pollination. Because of local southern windstorms, the long plastic tunnels can only be oriented in one direction, from north to south. Beekeepers disagree as to the best site to locate the bee hives. Observation of bee foraging behavior and analysis of wind direction in the experimental plots revealed that placing hives at the northern end of the tunnel allows for higher bee activity in the morning. This results in a higher yield compared with that obtained when hives are located at the southern end of the tunnel