ISHS Acta Horticulturae 288: VI International Symposium on Pollination
POLLINATORS OF CULTIVATED STRAWBERRY IN QUÉBEC |
| Authors: | D. de Oliveira, L. Savoie, C. Vincent |
| Abstract:
Although the honey bee is a major contributor to strawberry pollination, the native fauna may play a significant contribution, particularly when strawberry growers do not position beehives in their plantations. This study of pollinators fauna was conducted in 1987 at the Experimental Farm of Agriculture Canada at Frelighsburg, Québec, in a 'Redcoat' plantation. Thirty-two species were collected as compared to 19 species at the same site in 1978 and 1979 (Pion 1980). The taxa visiting the flowers were, by decreasing order of importance, the honey bees, the syrphids and halictids. Their relative abundance on strawberry flowers in time is presented. Species richness (45 species) at Frelighsburg was low compared to the 108 species observed in Logan (Utah) by Nye and Anderson (1974). Better knowledge of pollinators ecology and behavior is required to design sound integrated pest management programs that would take into account the contribution of pollinators to yield. | |
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