<div dir="ltr"><div>Dear Readers,</div>
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<div>Genetically modified (GM) alfalfa is up for commercialization in
Ontario. Industry argues that since alfalfa is pollinated by leafcutter
bees which don't travel far, and not by honeybees, pollinator-mediated
GM contamination is not a problem. Critics argue that cross
contamination is inevitable.</div>
<div><br>I am reaching out to you, in the hopes that you might kindly provide
answers to the following questions. The answers primarily revolve
around the need for solid academic citations -- whether they are
published studies or simply your personal word. If the information below is
incorrect in any way, please let me know. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>1) My impression is that leafcutter bees do not usually travel far.
Their maximum range seems to be about 650-750m. However, I have
heard that they may travel further over time to search for better bloom,
and may relocate further via strong winds and storms. Is this true? If
so, do we have an estimate for the far end of their range? (Source?) <br></div>
<div> </div>
<div>2) Apparently, leafcutters are usually placed in field domiciles that contain up to 20,000 bees per acre, but not all the
bees return to the shelter. Are there reasons other than natural causes of mortality, or perhaps this relocation via strong winds and storms? If so,
is there a source that I can cite for this?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>3) Honeybees don't tend to pollinate alfalfa because they don't
appreciate the trip mechanism of the alfalfa flower, which hits them on
the head. However, this is apparently a learned behaviour, and juvenile honeybees
may pollinate alfalfa flowers. Are there any citations for this
possibility/reality? We are arguing that even though honeybees, which
have longer foraging distances, do not commonly pollinate alfalfa,
that doesn't mean that honeybee-mediated cross-contamination doesn't
take place.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>4) Finally, I realize that a number of other native pollinators,
including bees and wasps, also visit and pollinate alfalfa. Other than
alkali bees, which other types of bees and wasps can be named?<br clear="all"></div>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt">Much obliged,</span></span></span><div><div dir="ltr"><p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black">Best regards,<br>KiM</span></span><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br>
--</span></span><br></span></b></span></p><p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black">K i m b e r l e y M. F e l l o w s</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"><br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black">Pollination Outreach Coordinator<b><br></b><a href="http://www.seeds.ca/en.php" target="_blank">Seeds of Diversity</a> ~ <a href="http://www.seeds.ca/proj/poll/" target="_blank">Pollination Canada</a><br>
<a href="http://www.seeds.ca/fr.php" target="_blank">Semences du Patrimoine</a> ~ <a href="http://www.pollinisationcanada.ca/" target="_blank">Pollinisation Canada<br></a></span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">303-40 King Street South<br>
Waterloo ON N2J 1N8 Canada<span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,51)"><br><br><span style="background-color:rgb(182,215,168)">Heard about <a href="http://www.fooddowntheroad.ca/content/introducing-bee-friendly-farming" target="_blank">Bee Friendly Farming or Gardening</a>?</span></span><br>
</span></span></p><p style="line-height:normal;font-family:courier new,monospace"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="background-color:rgb(182,215,168)">"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3pIuy69UE8" target="_blank">Spot Your Flower</a>"</span> *<br>
</span></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"></span><font size="1"><span>* Yes,
you're right ... the film uses the word 'proboscis' incorrectly, for a
moth's proboscis refers to their feeding tube, and would be more
accurately described as a tongue. In contrast, proboscis usually <font size="1">refers to a nose in </font>the vertebrate <font size="1">world</font> (animals
with a backbone). <font size="1"><font size="1"><font size="1">A majority of <font size="1">p</font></font>ollinators <font size="1">inadvertently spread flower pollen simply <font size="1">as </font>they feed on pollen and ne<font size="1">ctar </font>for their own nut<font size="1">ritional needs<font size="1">. Do not be confused -- </font></font></font></font></font>in this f<font size="1">ilm c<font size="1">lip featuring this </font></font>particular orchid pollination, it is still plant pollen that is in<font size="1">volved in pollination -- you can learn more about this wondrous<font size="1">, unusual strategy in </font></font>Michael Pollan's musings <span style="background-color:rgb(182,215,168)"><a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/09/orchids/pollan-text" target="_blank">Love and Lies</a></span>.</span></font></span></div>
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