Abstract
The edible pulp size of cactus pear fruit is highly correlated with seed content, which in turn iscorrelated with the effectiveness of pollination. In California commercial orchards, honey bees(Apis mellifera) are not nearly as efficient pollinators as the very docile, ground dwelling,solitary, native cactus bee (Diadasia spp). Much additional work on native bees is needed todevelop practical methods to: a) establish cactus bees on other plantations, b) manipulate thedate of emergence to coincide with late/early flowering, c) develop protocols to safely applypesticides to control insects such as cochineal without harming native bees, and d) developother native insect pollinators early in the season (February/early March) when Opuntiaflowers are available but no insect pollinators are available.
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