Native bees as pollinators (Aust. honeyeater threat)

The report featured on Catalyst suggested
tha Blue Banded Bees could be used for pollination, however an extensive
trial was underway to check for the viability of using them for hydroponic
pollination. A period of at least 3 years for trials to be conclusive was
going to be unsatisfactory to the  AHGA, who didn't want to wait that
long and wanted immediate approval for Bumble Bee importation.  

Peter

Sent by:

07/05/2004 03:47 PM

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Subject	[BIRDING-AUS] Native bees as pollinators (Aust. honeyeater threat)

John Leonard suggests we may already have native bees that have a similar
function to the exotic bumblebee.

I didn't see the ABC Catalyst program last night but the following link
talks about this very issue and argues we could use out native bee fauna
for hoticultural work rather than import exotics.

Blue-banded Bees: potential pollinators of glasshouse tomatoes - http://www.zeta.org.au/~anbrc/abol-002.html

and, some superb images of Blue-banded Bees from Queensland -
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_wasps/BlueBandedBees.htm

Martin O'Brien
Department of Sustainability and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne  3002


Tel: 9412 4567
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