Bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Diversity and Abundance on Cranberry in Southeastern Massachusetts

Abstract

Diversity and abundance of bee pollinators foraging on cranberry in southeastern Massachusetts were studied from 1990 to 1992. Both collections and observations of bees were used to compare the effects of habitat, bog location and size, and year. Although there was a high diversity of native bee pollinators, the abundance of most was very low except for a few bumble bee species and honey bees. Nonapid bees were more abundant and diverse on abandoned and natural bogs than on cultivated bogs; bumble bees were similarly abundant and diverse in the three habitats; and honey bees were present in large numbers only on cultivated bogs where colonies had been placed. In 199.1, some sites had more bumble bees than honey bees even though colonies were present. Small, cultivated bogs tended to have more native bees than did large, cultivated bogs. Native bee populations seemed to be affected by weather and site attributes such as cropping history and surrounding vegetation. Bumble bees might be useful as managed pollinators of cranberry.