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Last week, Mary Smith sent an email to the Pollinator listserve
requesting information on how to purchase bumble bee hives in Oregon for
gourd pollination. I responded directly to her, but wanted to share the
response with the rest of the listserve (see below). <br><br>
Sarina Jepsen<br><br>
To: mxmayor@aim.com<br>
Subject: bumble bees<br><br>
Hi Mary, <br><br>
I'm writing you in response to your request to purchase a hive of bumble
bees in Oregon that was posted on the Pollinator listserve. The Xerces
Society supports the Oregon Department of Agriculture regulations that
prohibit the importation of the common eastern bumble bee (<i>Bombus
impatiens</i>) into Oregon. Oregon is far outside of the bumble bee's
native range, and allowing this bee into Oregon may spread harmful
diseases to wild populations of native Oregon bumble bees. We have seen a
decline in wild populations of many species of native bumble bees in
North America, possibly due to the movement of commercial bumble bees and
subsequent spread of disease (for more information, please see:
<a href="http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees" eudora="autourl">
www.xerces.org/bumblebees</a>). <br><br>
That said, there are a number of things you can do to encourage local
bumble bees and other pollinators to inhabit your farm, from planting a
hedgerow with flowers that bloom throughout the growing season, to
installing nest blocks (for tunnel nesting bees), to exercising caution
with your use of pesticides. If you would like more information on some
things that you can do to enhance native pollinators on your farm, I
would be happy to send you some.<br><br>
Best of luck, <br>
Sarina Jepsen<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">From: "Mary Smith"
<mxmayor@aim.com><br>
To: <pollinator@nappc.org><br>
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 11:18:50 -0700<br>
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<br>
----- Original Message ----- <br>
<b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:mxmayor@aim.com">Mary Smith</a> <br>
<b>To:</b>
<a href="mailto:pollinator@lists.sonic.net">pollinator@lists.sonic.net</a>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 07, 2008 8:32 AM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Looking to purchase Bumblebees<br><br>
<font size=2>Hi - We are looking to purchase bumblebees to pollinate our
gourds, which we sell. <br>
Oregon is the only state that does not allow the delivery of bumblebees
from outside sources. We have been using Mason Orchard Bees, but
our gourd crop has not been producing as well as in the past and the
Masons are most active prior to gourd pollination. We would like to
purchase a hive of bumblebees. Can you point me in the right
direction.<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>Under current conditions the State of Oregon is doing
everything possible to inhibit ag and small producers like us don't stand
a chance of having a voice in Salem!<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>Any ideas?<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>Thanks, Mary Smith <br>
</font>_______________________________________________<br>
Pollinator mailing list<br>
Pollinator@lists.sonic.net<br>
<a href="http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/pollinator" eudora="autourl">
http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/pollinator</a></blockquote><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
________________________________________<br>
<font size=2><b>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation<br>
</b></font><font size=1>The Xerces Society is an international, nonprofit
organization that <br>
protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their
<br>
habitat. To join the Society, make a contribution, or read about our
<br>
work, please visit <a href="http://www.xerces.org/">www.xerces.org</a>
<br><br>
Sarina Jepsen<br>
Endangered Species Coordinator<br>
4828 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97215<br>
tel: 503-232-6639 fax: 503-233-6794<br>
email: sarina@xerces.org<br>
</font>________________________________________<br>
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