Diversity of cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) within apple orchards and wild habitats in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada

• DOI: 10.4039/n07-058
• Publication Date: 2009-03-11T15:08:12Z
• Authors: Cory S. Sheffield; Peter G. Kevan; Sue M. Westby; Robert F. Smith
• Keywords: Megachilidae

Abstract Solitary cavity-nesting bees, especially trap-nesting Megachilidae, have great potential as commercial pollinators. A few species been developed for crop pollination, but the diversity, abundance, and pollination contributions of native bees within agricultural systems seldom assessed. Our objectives were to compare diversity fecundity in Nova Scotia natural ecosystems with those apple orchards under three levels management, using trap nests, determine whether any show promise development results that richness numbers reared from nests commercially managed orchards, abandoned habitats similar, species’ compositional patterns not unique specific habitats. Trap can be used increase maintain bee populations orchards. Osmia tersula Cockerell (Megachilidae), which accounted almost 45% all captured was most abundant nesting evaluated, should assessed a pollinator spring-flowering crops. The influence cavities on surveys is also discussed.