White-tailed bumblebee

Systematic position: The white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) is a member of the Hymenoptera order and the Apidae family. While generally regarded as a beneficial pollinator, in intensive greenhouse agriculture, this species can exhibit behaviors that categorize it as a pest, primarily due to its foraging habits.

Biology and life cycle: The species follows a typical social insect lifecycle. Queens emerge in spring to establish colonies in soil or cavities. The colony grows rapidly, producing workers who are responsible for foraging. Their high metabolic demand often drives them to seek out nectar efficiently, leading to problematic interactions with cultivated plants.

Nature of damage: The damage is defined by "nectar robbing." Instead of entering the flower and performing pollination, the bumblebee pierces a hole at the base of the flower to access the nectar directly. This mechanical damage disrupts the flower's physiology, causing it to wither and preventing the development of the fruit.

Crops: The issue is most severe in greenhouse-grown crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and strawberries. When native forage is scarce or bumblebee density is too high, workers frequently resort to piercing flower bases, resulting in significant yield loss and irregular fruit set across the greenhouse.

Control measures: Management strategies include:

• Regulating the density of bumblebee colonies relative to the crop area.
• Providing supplementary sugar water to satisfy energy needs.
• Using screen enclosures to restrict access to specific sensitive plant stages.
• Regular inspection of flowers to identify early signs of nectar robbing damage.