Buff-tailed bumblebee

The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is a species of the order Hymenoptera, family Apidae. While widely regarded as an essential pollinator for commercial greenhouse crops, under specific stress conditions, its behavior can become destructive to crops, necessitating management strategies to mitigate economic losses.

The primary crops affected by excessive foraging behavior are solanaceous plants, particularly tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. When natural pollen sources are insufficient or colony density is too high, bumblebees may bite or pierce the base of the flower or the developing ovary to access nectar, effectively damaging the reproductive structure of the plant.

The life cycle of Bombus terrestris involves a complex social structure initiated by a queen after hibernation. In greenhouse settings, development is controlled; however, the lack of sufficient flora or environmental stress prompts workers to forage on plant tissues rather than strictly fulfilling their role as pollinators, leading to localized damage.

Damage is characterized by distinct puncture marks and tissue necrosis on the calyx and ovaries. These injuries not only impede proper fruit development, leading to deformities and lower quality, but also create entry points for secondary pathogens, such as fungal infections, which can further jeopardize the overall health of the crop.

Effective management requires balancing the population density of bumblebee hives with the available flowering area. Providing supplementary sugar syrup feeding is crucial to reduce the tendency of bees to forage on plant tissues. Additionally, growers should monitor for early signs of damage and adjust hive distribution or implement temporal closures of bee exits to prevent over-visitation of sensitive cultivars.