{"id":618,"date":"2010-06-01T10:29:59","date_gmt":"2010-06-01T14:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/300-how-to-manage-alfalfa-leafcutting-bees-for-wild-blueberry-production\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T15:45:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T19:45:40","slug":"alfalfa-leafcutting-bees-wild-blueberry-production","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/pollinator-insects\/alfalfa-leafcutting-bees-wild-blueberry-production\/","title":{"rendered":"300-How to Manage Alfalfa Leafcutting Bees for Wild Blueberry Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fact Sheet No. 300, UMaine Extension No. 2413<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Prepared by C..S. Stubbs, Assistant Scientist; F.A. Drummond, Associate Professor; and D.E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.\u00a0 Revised 2007.\u00a0 Photo credits:\u00a0 C.S. Stubbs (1), Eggerman Farms, Ltd. (2), Beaver Plastics, Ltd. (3).<\/em><\/p>\n

University of Maine has found the alfalfa leafcutting bee to be a good pollinator of wild blueberry. It is particularly suited for pollinating large, weed-free fields.\u00a0 This fact sheet is designed to give you step-by-step basic information on how to obtain, store, incubate and handle the alfalfa leafcutting bee for wild blueberry pollination in Maine.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Ordering Bees and Equipment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Generally, bee orders are placed in the early winter from suppliers located in the United States and Canada. A list of suppliers of bees and equipment is provided in this fact sheet. Quality is an important factor to consider when ordering bees. The supplier should provide you with the following information about the quality of their bees: the percentage of females (sex ratio), parasitism and disease rates, and live count information (how many bees can be expected from one pound of leaf cells). Excellent quality bees have one female to two male sex ratio; low parasitism (less than two percent); no disease; and a live count of at least 4,700 bees\/lb. of leaf cells. You will need to order two gallons of leaf cells per acre. (One gallon contains about 10,000 developing bees)\u00a0 If, for example, you plan to pollinate a ten-acre blueberry field, you would order 20 gallons of bees (leaf cells). The supplier will send you alfalfa leafcutting bee prepupae, which are protected within their individual leaf cells. (Some suppliers refer to leaf cells as cocoons.)\u00a0 To make certain that at least 89 percent of the leaf cells contain healthy, living, developing bees, upon receipt of the prepupae, dissect a random sample (approximately 100 cells). One dissection method is the following: with a sharp razor blade cut the cap off one end of the leaf cell and, with forceps, gently remove the prepupae. Healthy prepupae are cream colored and move slightly when prodded at room temperature. If less than 89 percent of your sample is healthy, contact your supplier immediately. A variety of shelter types and sizes, as well as nesting materials, are available from suppliers. You also have the option of making your own. (Figure 1 and 2 show examples of hand-made equipment commercially available). Factors to consider include costs, durability, heat retaining ability, and ease of transport. Each female bee will need a minimum of two nest tunnels. Painted designs on the front of nest materials help females locate their nests.<\/p>\n\n\t\t