PASTURE SEEDS

Improving Lucerne Pollination with Leafcutter Bees Stage 2

  • 22 pages

  • Published: 30 Aug 2006

  • Author(s): Anderson, Denis

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Lucerne seed yields in Canada and the United States (US) are significantly higher than those in Australia and are achieved mostly through superior pollination provided by the leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata. The establishment of this bee in Australia would significantly improve lucerne seed yields which, at present, rely on pollination by the European honeybee Apis mellifera, which is less efficient at pollinating lucerne than the leafcutter bee.