Home >> Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 99, Number 3

Increased Tomato Yield Through Pollination by Native Australian Amegilla chlorocyanea (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae)

Authors: Hogendoorn, Katja; Gross, Caroline L.; Sedgley, Margaret; Keller, Michael A.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 99, Number 3, June 2006 , pp. 828-833(6)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

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Abstract:

Amegilla spp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) have been suggested as potential native Australian alternative to overseas used bumblebees (Bombus spp.) for pollination of tomato in greenhouses. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of Amegilla chlorocyanea Cockerell as a greenhouse pollinator of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. We show that 1) a single buzz by a female increases tomato weight by 11% compared with pollination by using an industrial pollination wand, 2) multiple buzzes increase tomato weight compared with a single buzz, and 3) unlimited flower visits lead to an increase in fruit weight of 21% compared with wand pollination. These results are comparable with those achieved by bumblebee pollination and demonstrate that A. chlorocyanea is a valid alternative to bumblebees for greenhouse tomato pollination in Australia.

Keywords: Amegilla; Bombus; tomato; buzz-pollination; greenhouse

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2006-06-01

More about this publication?
  • Journal of Economic Entomology is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The journal publishes articles on the economic significance of insects and is divided into the following sections: apiculture & social insects; arthropods in relation to plant disease; forum; insecticide resistance and resistance management; ecotoxicology; biological and microbial control; ecology and behavior; sampling and biostatistics; household and structural insects; medical entomology; molecular entomology; veterinary entomology; forest entomology; horticultural entomology; field and forage crops, and small grains; stored-product; commodity treatment and quarantine entomology; and plant resistance. In addition to research papers, Journal of Economic Entomology publishes Letters to the Editor, interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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