Frequently Asked Questions How do Bumblebees Compare to Honeybees? How many bees are in a hive? How are the hives packaged? Can hives be separated from the QUAD shelter? How many hives do I need? When should orders be placed? When should hives be placed in the crop? Where should the hives be placed? Do the bees require shade? Why is there mesh over the exit of the hive doors? How long will the hives pollinate? Are bumblebees affected by chemical applications? How do I close the hives prior to chemical applications? Can the hives be moved? Can bumblebees be used along with honeybees? Are wild animals attracted to hives? How do Bumblebees Compare to Honeybees?” No. Individuals/Hive Honeybees Bumblebees Comments % Pollen Foragers 5-15% 60-90% Honeybees and bumblebees are distinctly different in their food requirements. Bumblebees are focused on pollen whereas honeybees are nectar focused as well. Nectar foragers in the colony do pollinate but to a much lesser extent since it is just a side-effect of their main function; nectar collecting. No. Of Pollen Foragers/Colony 1000-3500 150-225 One can expect the average honeybee hive to contain 25,000 bees, and 5% to 15%, or 1,000 to 3,500 honeybees are pollen foraging bees. A bumblebee hive with 250 bees has 150 to 225 pollen foraging bees. Pollen Deposition 1 4x Since bumblebees carry more pollen, have larger bodies and are better able to get into the flower, they deposit on average about 4 times the amount of pollen per flower as compared to a honeybee. Larger deposits of pollen promote pollination as well as the formation of more uniform and larger fruits and vegetables. Working Speed 1 2x Bumblebees on average visit twice as many flowers per minute as compared to honeybees. No. of Pollen Foragers Correct for Efficiency 1000-3500 1200-1800 Taking working speed, and pollen deposition into consideration, a bumblebee will do, at a minimum, 8 times as much as a honeybee; Working hours 1 2x The regulation of their body temperature allows bumblebees to be active in a wider range of conditions. Bumblebees will forage for up to two times as long as a honeybee. Total Pollen Foraging Bees 1000-3500 2400-3600 On almost any given day, bumblebees will forage for longer hours as compared to honeybees, bringing the total hive efficiency to equal if not better than a honeybee hive. Back to Top How many bees are in a hive? There are, on average, approximately 250 bumblebees per hive. Back to Top How are the hives packaged? Bumblebee hives are sold in Increments of four hives packaged in the Koppert QUAD field pollination shelter. The QUAD shelter is built of corrugated plastic and provides for weather protection and environmental stabilization. Back to Top Can hives be separated from the QUAD shelter? Koppert advises against separating the hives from the QUAD shelter. The QUAD shelter protects the hives from adverse weather conditions and it's insulative properties reduces the need for the bumblebees to expel energy regulating hive temperatures during fluctuating weather extremes. Back to Top How many hives do I need? The recommended number of QUAD units per acres varies depending on the crop, environment, and abundance of other naturally occurring pollinators or commercial pollinators, such as honeybees. If Koppert bumblebees are the only pollinators present, Koppert typically recommends two hives per acre (1 QUAD for every two acres), with the exception for blueberries and cranberries Koppert recommends three hives per acre (1 QUAD for every 1.3 acres). Back to Top When should orders be placed? In order to ensure availability, orders should be placed a minimum of 14-16 weeks prior to delivery. Back to Top When should hives be placed in the crop? Koppert recommends introducing the hives when the crop is near 0-10% bloom. Back to Top Where should hives be placed? Koppert recommends introducing the QUAD shelter units in tact (containing 4 bumblebee hives) evenly spaced in a checkerboard pattern with in the field. If the QUAD units cannot be placed within the field, they should be evenly spaced along the perimeter of the crop. Back to Top Do the bees require shade? Studies have shown that the bumblebees will perform the most effectively if the QUAD units are shaded, either naturally or by artificial methods. Back to Top Why is there mesh over the exit of the hive doors? After shipping the bees are quite agitated. Once placed in the crop and the doors are slid to the open position, the bumblebees must chew their way through the mesh tape. They will chew through the tape within 3-6 hours. This period of time will allow the bees time to calm down from shipping and handling. When the bumblebees can finally leave the hive, they will perform orientation flights marking the location of their hives with respect to the crop and landmarks. If the bumblebees leave the hive in an agitated state, it is likely they will not perform their orientation flights and will not be able to return to their hive. If the mesh is still intact after 24 hours, use a utility knife to carefully remove the tape. Back to Top How long will the hives pollinate? The hives will last one season, approximately 6-8 weeks. The hives will naturally expire at the end of the season. Back to Top Are bumblebees affected by chemical applications? Bumblebees are just as sensitive to chemicals as are honeybees. To determine the appropriate action when spraying chemicals, visit the chemical side effects page or contact your Koppert representative. Back to Top How do I close the hives prior to chemical applications? Each hive door has an exit and an entrance. A black tab located in the door system, allows for an entrance-only into the hive. When collecting the workers in the hive, gently slide the door to the entrance-only position. It is recommended that this be done prior to sunrise when the bees are less active. Leave the hive doors in this position for a few hours following sunrise to ensure all of the bees have returned to their hives. Close the hives completely prior to the chemical application. The bees should remain in the hives until the recommended reentry period. When reintroducing, reopen the hive doors in the morning prior to sunrise, as the mesh tape is not longer intact and the bees will be less active. Back to Top Can the QUADs be moved? QUAD units can be moved to a different location in the crop or to an entirely different crop. Follow the same protocol for collecting workers as detailed for chemical applications. Move the QUAD units to their new location, and return the following morning prior to sunrise to release the bees. Back to Top Can bumblebees be used along with honeybees? Bumblebees and honeybees can be used together with caution. Koppert hives contain bags of sugar water solution, which can attract honeybees. If honeybees begin raiding the hives, the health and longevity of the hives can be jeopardized. When using bumblebees and honeybees together, Koppert recommends separating the two bees by a minimum of 100 yards. Back to Top Are wild animals attracted to hives? The sugar water and pollen in the hives can attract other insects and animals. Most insects attracted to the hives are generally a nuisance, and do not effect the viability of the bees. Animals, such as bears, can pose a more serious threat. If bears are present, it is recommended that agricultural electrical fencing is placed around the QUAD units. Back to Top