Blue Orchard Bees Native to California: Possibilities for Use in Almond Pollination Carolyn Pickel, UC IPM Sara Goldman Smith, UC IPM Glen Trostle, USDA Bee Lab

Project Goals Locate and acquire wild blue orchard bees (BOBs) from CA locations – Nest box building and use – Handling and rearing in local climate Emergence under ambient conditions – Offspring of Native CA bees – Emergence timing without incubation Release and re-nesting in almonds

Nest Box construction Drilled wood blocks Cardboard tubes Phragmites reed sections Others commercially available

Nest Box placement Available pollen & nectar, blooming plants Morning sun exposure Protection from high heat Moist soil, riparian area

Nest box use by wild BOBs Almond orchards, Valley floor – Glenn – Butte – Sutter – Colusa Riparian habitat, Foothills – Butte – Elevation 400 – 1,000 ft. Not much nesting activity More nesting activity

Nest box use by wild BOBs Long term project: We still have much to learn Nesting materials preferences Handling of collected nests during delicate egg & larval stages Monitor developmental stages and record temperature data Protect nests from parasites and predators Release offspring for population increase

Full bloom Mar 5? Emergence timing under local ambient conditions at 4 locations Males begin to emerge Males & Females 100% emerged ButteFeb 15March 16 YoloFeb 21March 12 KernMarch 31April 8 KingsFeb 3March 11 N.P. Full bloom Feb 23

Emergence project Butte data

Emergence project Bees released in almonds

Emergence project Successful nesting activity! Homemade release box

Free Download BOB handbook PDF file (961 k)

Cooperators Jim Cane, USDA Bee Lab, Logan Utah Emergence timing data from: Tom Gradziel, UC Davis Steve Peterson, AgPollen, Ceres CA Almond Pollination Co, Bakersfield CA