{"title":"Bumblebees for Pollination","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"gm-edt-prose\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"lede\"\u003eStrong, even pollination is one of the cheapest yield boosts in protected growing — and bumblebees deliver it better than honeybees or hand labor. Here's why growers rely on them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBumblebees for pollination\u003c\/strong\u003e outperform the alternatives indoors, where light and temperature limit other pollinators. This guide explains how bumblebees power \u003cstrong\u003egreenhouse pollination\u003c\/strong\u003e and why they set fruit so reliably on crops like tomato, pepper, and berry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat is buzz pollination?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBumblebees grip a flower and vibrate their flight muscles, shaking loose pollen that stays locked in the anthers of crops like tomato and pepper. Honeybees can't do this — which is exactly why bumblebees set fruit so much more effectively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy bumblebees beat the alternatives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey forage in the cooler, lower-light, enclosed conditions of a greenhouse, visit more flowers per trip, and remove the labor and inconsistency of hand-pollination — improving fruit set, size, and uniformity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow growers use them\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlace ready-to-use hives in the crop at flowering, protect them from direct sun, and replace colonies on a rolling schedule. Avoid pesticides toxic to bees during the pollination window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGet started\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReady-to-use colonies are available in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bumblebee-hives\"\u003eBumblebee Hives\u003c\/a\u003e collection — just place, open, and let them work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy use bumblebees instead of honeybees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBumblebees perform buzz pollination and forage in cool, low-light greenhouse conditions, giving far better fruit set on crops like tomato and pepper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do bumblebees pollinate tomatoes?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey vibrate the flowers to release pollen that's otherwise trapped, fertilizing the bloom and producing fuller, more uniform fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre bumblebees safe to work around?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — they're docile foragers focused on flowers and rarely bother greenhouse staff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen should I introduce bumblebees?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of flowering, and replace colonies on a rolling schedule to match continuous bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#\" class=\"gm-edt-totop\" aria-label=\"Back to top\" title=\"Back to top\"\u003e↑\u003c\/a\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"bombus-impatiens-pollinating-bumblebee-hives","title":"Bombus impatiens – pollinating bumblebee hives","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"gm-content-products\"\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eProduct Description\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBombus impatiens\u003c\/em\u003e, the common eastern bumblebee, is the most widely used bumblebee for commercial pollination in North America. Its hives deliver buzz pollination for greenhouse and field crops, and the bees keep working in conditions that slow honey bees down — low light and cooler temperatures — which makes them well suited to greenhouse production and early-season outdoor crops. A hive can replace hand-pollination and pollination hormones, and good pollination raises fruit set, size, and quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat it pollinates\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eTomato, pepper, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, kiwi, and many other crops — especially those that need buzz pollination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow buzz pollination works\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eA worker grasps the flower and vibrates its flight muscles to shake pollen loose from the anthers, leaving a small brown “bite mark” on the flower. Those marks let you read the bees’ work: very dark marks mean over-pollination (close the hives), and when the number of fresh marks drops, it is time to add hives to keep pollination going.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHive Options\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gm-table-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"gm-release-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHive\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedium Hive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA medium colony of \u003cem\u003eBombus impatiens\u003c\/em\u003e. At delivery it contains more than 55 workers and stays active for at least 6 weeks.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard Hive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA standard colony of \u003cem\u003eBombus impatiens\u003c\/em\u003e. At delivery it contains around 75 workers and stays active for at least 6–8 weeks.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSetup \u0026amp; Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReceipt and setup:\u003c\/strong\u003e Open the cardboard box — you should see bumblebees on the cotton. Remove the brood box, open the sugar-water reservoir, then replace the brood box gently to avoid damaging the wick, and close the box. Distribute hives evenly about 0.5 m above ground level with the flight opening facing south-east and nothing blocking the entrance or exit. Protect the hive from direct sunlight, and wait 30 to 60 minutes before opening it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConditions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bumblebees perform best between 8 and 32°C (46–90°F) at 50–80% humidity; above 26°C (79°F), use the ventilation system. They need UV light to orient, so make sure the greenhouse glazing lets UV through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeneral care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Handle hives gently and avoid harmful pesticides and hormones — check the Biobest side-effects list before spraying. If a spray is needed, lock the bumblebees up and remove the hive, then re-install it afterward in its original position and orientation. Remove hives older than 8 weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eShipping Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eOvernight shipping required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eOrder by Wednesday by 12PM PST to receive the following week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eWill ship Tuesday or Wednesday.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThis product could be affected by US holidays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Beneficial-Insectary","offers":[{"title":"Standard Hive","offer_id":46947617898652,"sku":"BI-STD","price":203.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium Hive","offer_id":46947617931420,"sku":"BI-MED","price":186.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0744\/0403\/6764\/files\/Bombus_impatiens_pollinating_bumblebee_hives_standard_hive.webp?v=1779300529"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0744\/0403\/6764\/collections\/bee_a6f7ca48-5b80-4a95-a62c-2bffb55d5cc5.png?v=1782261470","url":"https:\/\/greenmethods.com\/collections\/bumblebees-for-pollination.oembed","provider":"Green Methods","version":"1.0","type":"link"}