Pollination
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Pollination is the crucial first step toward obtaining good yields. Most fruits grown in Michigan, including cherries, apples, peaches, pears, blueberries and cranberries, require insect pollination to ensure good fruit set. About pollinators Honeybees - view pdf file or html Bumble bees - view pdf file or html Horn-faced bees (Osmia cornifrons) - Alternative pollinator - pdf file Putting horn-faced bees into your orchard - pdf file The skinny on horn-faced bees in 2007 - pdf file.

Above, bumble bee on a cherry blossom.

Need Adobe Reader to view the pdf files? Visit this download site for a free copy.

Pollinators and pesticide use

• Working with beekeepers when using pesticides - pdf file or html
• Insecticides and horn-face bees - pdf file

Effective pollination

• Find a Michigan beekeeper
• Pollination tips for tree fruit
• Using bees for pollination of fruit crops
• The effect of temperature on pollen tube growth in different cherry varieties
• Chart with sweet cherry varieties in order of bloom and information on which varieties are good pollenizer matches - pdf file.

Conserving and encouraging bees
The following resources link to a web site about establishing and managing native plant habitats in fields, orchards and conservation buffers to increase biological pest insect control and pollination services.

• Pollination and bees
• Conserving Native Bees on Farmland. Colorful, 4-page fact sheet. Includes native bee biology with practical advice for increasing native bee abundance. Print/view a pdf file of this bulletin, or call the MSU Extension Bulletin office (517-353-6740) to order copies. The bulletin inventory number is E-2985. A single copy costs $1.50.
• Teaching resources

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