Notes on pollination ecology of an orchid in the city of Quito, Ecuador

A nocturnal moth visiting Altensteinia fimbriata

by Carrera and Baquero

Orchids often struggle in urban areas because human activities fragment their habitats and disrupt their pollination. However, some species, like the terrestrial orchid Altensteinia fimbriata, thrive in such environments. This study looked at how A. fimbriata, a terrestrial orchid found in disturbed habitats in Quito, Ecuador, attracts pollinators. Researchers observed a patch of 60 inflorescences for 30 hours and recorded 121 visits from ten moth species, with four identified as effective pollinators. Interestingly, these moths pollinate flowers using their legs, a method also seen in other terrestrial orchids that rely on noctuid moths. The study found that the orchid releases specific floral scents and nectar in the evening, perfectly timed with peak moth activity. These findings reveal how adaptable A. fimbriata is in urban settings and stress the importance of understanding how global changes impact its pollination.

Read the scientific publication in JPE

Buzzing Benefits: How Multi-Species Pollination Boosts Strawberry Yield, Quality, and Nutritional Value

Hoverfly visiting a strawberry flower

By James et al.

Pollination plays a crucial role in improving the yield, quality, and nutritional value of crops, such as strawberries. In this study, researchers explored how combining two pollinator species: bumblebees and hoverflies, which affected strawberry production compared to pollination by each species alone or self-pollination without insects. The findings indicate that the combined pollination treatment significantly enhanced fruit yield, marketable quality, and vitamin C levels compared to using bumblebees or hoverflies alone. Bumblebees and hoverflies demonstrate different activity patterns throughout the day in polytunnel trials, with bumblebees most active in the morning and hoverflies more active later. This complementarity ensured that strawberry flowers, which are only receptive to pollination for four days, were pollinated more effectively.

The findings have practical implications for agriculture. While bumblebees are commonly used in commercial strawberry production, introducing hoverflies alongside them may offer even greater benefits. This improvement stems from behavioural changes when multiple pollinators are present, leading to more even and efficient pollination. Additionally, better pollination boosts levels of vitamin C, an antioxidant that not only enhances fruit quality and shelf life but may also strengthen plant defences against stress and diseases.

This study underscores the value of diverse pollinator systems in sustainable agriculture, highlighting how optimizing pollination strategies can improve both food production and nutritional security. Further research into wild pollinators and plant metabolic processes could unlock even greater benefits for crops and ecosystems.

Read the scientific publication in JPE

New ecological insights on wild pollinator Andrena hesperia

Andrena hepseria

By Zenga et al.

Pollinators are an indispensable component of urban ecosystems.  Among them, wild bees are some of the most widespread and effective in pollinating the urban flora. Despite the presence of more than 2,000 species in Europe, ecological requirements and life cycles remain poorly known for many of them. How can we protect pollinators without understanding their habits? Some of these species do not reside atop remote mountains or on distant islands; they nest in the garden of the CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics) in Bologna, Italy.

Andrena hesperia is a relatively common species, classified as Least Concern on the European Red List of Bees, despite that, its biology is poorly known. The genus Andrena—the richest in species among European wild bees—comprises solitary, ground-nesting bees with a wide variety of ecological traits. The presence of a nesting aggregation of Andrena hesperia provided an opportunity to study its phenology and interactions with parasites and pathogens. From late March to April, monitored nests revealed the emergence of males followed by females. Alongside them, the cleptoparasitic bee Nomada facilis and the parasitoid Bombylius canescens were observed. The most abundant and prevalent pathogen detected was the Deformed wing virus (DWV), a virus widely spread among both honey bees and wild bees. Molecular analyses confirmed the morphological identification. Thermal stress resistance tests showed that Andrena hesperia has a moderate ability to tolerate heatwaves. Regarding its microbiota, the main groups identified were lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, some of which were also found in Andrena vaga, honey bees, and bumblebees. Pollen analysis from females' body revealed a preference for the inflorescences of Asteraceae.

Although this study is based on data from a single population monitored over one season, its findings provide valuable insights into the bionomics of Andrena hesperia, adopting an interdisciplinary and integrative approach. Basic research focusing on the biology of individual species is essential to deepen our understanding of wild pollinators’ ecology, particularly in the face of anthropogenic challenges such as climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use.

Read the scientific study in JPE.

Italian version: 

Gli insetti impollinatori sono un elemento indispensabile dell’ecosistema urbano. Tra essi, le api selvatiche sono tra le più diffuse ed efficaci nell’impollinazione. Sebbene in Europa siano presenti più di 2000 specie, su molte di esse scarseggiano le conoscenze sulle esigenze ecologiche e il ciclo vitale. Come è possibile conservare gli impollinatori se non se ne conoscono le abitudini?  Una di queste specie nidifica nel giardino del CREA (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria) nella città di Bologna, in Italia. 

Sebbene Andena hesperia sia una specie piuttosto diffusa, considerata a Rischio Minimo dalla European Red List of Bees, la sua biologia è scarsamente nota. Il genere Andrena, il più ricco di specie tra le api selvatiche d’Europa, è composto da api solitarie, nidificanti nel suolo e dalla grande varietà di aspetto ed esigenze ecologiche. La presenza di un’aggregazione di nidi di questa specie ci ha dato la possibilità di studiare la fenologia e le interazioni con parassiti e patogeni. Tra fine marzo e aprile sono emersi dai nidi monitorati prima gli individui maschi e poi le femmine; assieme ad essi sono stati osservati l’ape cleoptoparassita Nomada facilis e il parassitoide Bombylus canescens.  Il patogeno più abbondante e prevalente si è rivelato essere il Virus delle Ali Deformi (DWV), molto diffuso tra api da miele e selvatiche. Le analisi molecolari hanno confermato la determinazione morfologica. I test di resistenza agli stress termici hanno messo in luce una moderata capacità di Andrena hesperia di far fronte alle ondate di calore. Per quanto riguarda il microbiota, i gruppi principali rilevati sono i batteri lattici e gli enterobatteriacei; alcuni dei quali ritrovati anche in Andrena vaga, nell’ape mellifera e nei bombi.Le analisi sui pollini trasportati dalle femmine ha rivelato una preferenza per le infiorescenze delle Asteraceae. 

Anche se i dati di partenza sono limitati a una singola popolazione monitorata in una sola stagione, i risultati di questo studio rappresentano un contributo significativo alle conoscenze su Andrena hesperia, anche per via dell’approccio interdisciplinare e trasversale adottato. La ricerca di base, focalizzata sulla biologia delle singole specie, è fondamentale per approfondire l'ecologia degli impollinatori selvatici, soprattutto di fronte a fattori antropogenici come il cambiamento climatico, la perdita di habitat e l'uso di pesticidi.