Scholarlink

<p>Cucurbits are monoecious plants that rely on pollinators for successful fertilization. In Hokkaido, a major area for squash and pumpkin production, the naturalized bumblebee <i>Bombus terrestris</i> (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Bt) has become widespread and now coexists with native species such as <i>B. hypocrita sapporensis</i> Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Bhs), a close relative of Bt. Although Bt has recently become the dominant pollinator in pumpkin fields, its pollination efficiency has not been compared with that of native bumblebees, even in these fields. In this study, we examined the pollination behavior of Bt and Bhs in <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> L. cv. Stripe pepo fields in a semi-rural area of Obihiro, Hokkaido, focusing on flower visitation, pollen loads, pollen deposition on stigmas, and subsequent fruit and seed production. Our results showed that the native bumblebee Bhs, whose numbers have already declined in the semi-rural area, exhibits pollination efficiency similar to, or possibly higher than, that of the naturalized Bt, and pollination patterns may differ between the two species. Because Bt could have a pollination ability comparable to that of Bhs, replacement of Bhs by Bt might not necessarily harm cucurbit production in eastern Hokkaido. However, managing Bt population density is increasingly important for conserving native ecosystems.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Comparison of the pollination efficiency of the native bumblebee Bombus hypocrita sapporensis and the invasive naturalized bumblebee B. terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) in Hokkaido

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月22日

查看全文
  • Tamao Okada,
  • Masahiro Akimoto,
  • Norikuni Kumano

摘要

Cucurbits are monoecious plants that rely on pollinators for successful fertilization. In Hokkaido, a major area for squash and pumpkin production, the naturalized bumblebee Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Bt) has become widespread and now coexists with native species such as B. hypocrita sapporensis Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Bhs), a close relative of Bt. Although Bt has recently become the dominant pollinator in pumpkin fields, its pollination efficiency has not been compared with that of native bumblebees, even in these fields. In this study, we examined the pollination behavior of Bt and Bhs in Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Stripe pepo fields in a semi-rural area of Obihiro, Hokkaido, focusing on flower visitation, pollen loads, pollen deposition on stigmas, and subsequent fruit and seed production. Our results showed that the native bumblebee Bhs, whose numbers have already declined in the semi-rural area, exhibits pollination efficiency similar to, or possibly higher than, that of the naturalized Bt, and pollination patterns may differ between the two species. Because Bt could have a pollination ability comparable to that of Bhs, replacement of Bhs by Bt might not necessarily harm cucurbit production in eastern Hokkaido. However, managing Bt population density is increasingly important for conserving native ecosystems.