The status of the red mason bee in the orchards of Ankara and Çankiri Provinces, Turkey

Abstract

Research on the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L., 1758) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), which is an important pollinator particularly for stone fruits, in Turkey is limited to the last decade. After the first report in sweet cherry orchards of Afyonkarahisar, this study aimed to determine the presence and the density of the red mason bee and to collect data on its nesting biology between 2014 and 2016 in the mixed orchards of Ankara and Cankiri Provinces. Although the red mason bee was detected in almost all orchards sampled using the Malaise trap, the nesting activity was recorded in only four orchards in 2014 and 2015. Reeds with an inner diameter of 6-9 mm and a length of 15-25 cm were used as the artificial trap-nests. It was determined that the percentage of the nesting success varies between 6 and 48%. The cocoons that originated from the nests were placed in the incubator to stimulate diapause. Then, the temperature of the incubator was gradually increased to complete the life cycle of the species with starting the bud stage of stone fruits in early spring. Consequently, the emergence rates of the adults from the 135 cocoons collected in 2014 were 36 to 95%. It was not recorded the adult emergence from any of the 143 cocoons obtained from the dissections of the nests in 2015. The sex ratios, both between orchards and from 2014 to 2015 in the same orchard ranged between 1:1.5-1:4. The results are discussed based on stress conditions such as weather, limited pollen and nectar sources and insecticide application.