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Patrick Porter
Integrated Pest Management Specialist
WVU Extension Service
Hornfaced bees are used for most apple pollination in Japan and
are being investigated for apple pollination in West Virginia.
Last year, apple growers noticed a possible decline in
pollination due to the reduction in honeybee numbers. They asked
the Extension Service to investigate alternatives to honeybees
for orchard pollination. The Extension service obtained a supply
of hornfaced bees from Dr. Suzanne Batra, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and established three sites in the state to increase
the number of bees and investigate their propagation. The
majority of Dr. Batra's bees are being used in the Romney, West
Virginia, area by Paul Roomsburg and the special students at
Hampshire County High School. Bob Cheves, Hampshire County
extension agent, is working on the project with the high school
group and local apple growers.
Bob Cheves and Paul Roomsburg holding bee houses made by Special
Services students
Special Services students, faculty, and staff
The students, some of whom are physically or mentally impaired,
have constructed bee houses from wood blocks and polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) pipe filled with paper tubes. These houses and
tubes filled with starter bees have been placed in and near
orchards on several local farms. The progeny of these bees will
be kept until next year. Some will be given or sold to
orchardists, and others will be used for further population
increase. Grower cooperation in the project has been outstanding,
and orders for bee housing have exceeded the students'
manufacturing capacity. A video crew filmed the production
process on May 28, and the program will air on The Channel Earth
and possibly on public television.
Hornfaced bee investigations are also underway in Monongalia
County. Dr. Robert McConnell has placed starter colonies on his
blueberry farm, and two Extension Service employees have colonies
on their rural property. The extremely cold spring weather has
made bee establishment difficult in Monongalia County. The
Hampshire county group recently shipped bees to Monongalia County
to replace those that died from lack of pollen sources. A summary
of 1997 early-season experiences rearing
hornfaced bees in West Virginia is available. If the bee
propagation is successful in Monongalia County, these bees will
be used for research stock in 1998.
Readers who wish to learn more about hornfaced bees and other
alternate pollinators are encouraged to read the following
articles located on this Web site.
Management of Hornfaced Bees for
Orchard Pollination (Suzanne Batra, 1997)
Diversify With Pollen Bees
(Suzanne Batra, 1994)
Solitary Bees for Orchard Pollination
(Suzanne Batra, 1997)
Suppliers of Pollen Bees, Information,
and Products (Karen Strickler, 1997)
