Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Bees have very strong muscles to power their wings for flying. But they use these muscles in another way that often makes them more efficient as pollinators. As you know right now, some plants release pollen very easily – you get it on your nose if you smell a lily. But other plants hold onto that pollen – sometimes the plant must be shaken for the pollen to be expelled. Certain bees use their wings in an activity called sonication – a very strong vibration – that cause plants to release their pollen. Tomatoes usually release their pollen through the action of wind – but greenhouse tomato growers have to find another mechanism. Fortunately, they can raise bumble bees in greenhouses (they have to provide sugar water – no nectar in tomato flowers) and these insects will buzz buzz buzz all day and we can have tomatoes throughout the winter.
Bumble Bees Can Help Greenhouse Tomato Growers
