Those little tiny bees

[jeffinjonestown]

I've noticed more than ever this year that we have loads of really tiny bees that are smaller than some flies (at least I think they are bees - looks like they are gathering pollen from my zuke plants and clover in the yard).

Does anyone know the range on those little things in their pollen gathering activities, and whether they should significantly change my mix of isolation vs. bagging? Currently I've been bagging anything within 25 feet of any other tomato blooming near the same time, and not bagging varieties that are about 35 feet from a neighbor's plants. I'm starting to think that I should bag some of those.

If it matters one way or the other, there are two rows of blooming zukes next to one variety, but the rows are not directly in between the tomato varieties.

Maybe I'm over-thinking/worrying (which would be no surprise to anyone here or who knows me )

Any thoughts/advice appreciated. Thanks.

[Indyartist]

In my garden there are always many, many bees of various sizes. Perhaps I see fewer honey bees on my garden plants than I do in the clover in my yard. In the garden, especially on mint blossoms I see tiny, tiny bees, also some bees half the size of a honey bee with a beautiful green color and their rear legs heavy with pollen plus of course bumble bees.
I simply know very little about blossom bagging or the protocols associated with it.

[TZ-OH6]

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...highlight=bees

I have watched bees fly thirty or more feet from one of my patches to another, which means that they would hit tomato plants for well over 100 linear feet. I grew out some crossed Brandywine last year and the pollen parent could only have come from 70 -80 feet away. The bee nests where they are putting the pollen is most certainly further away than that so their round trip is who knows how far.

[Indyartist]

Originally Posted by TZ-OH6

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...highlight=bees

I have watched bees fly thirty or more feet from one of my patches to another, which means that they would hit tomato plants for well over 100 linear feet. I grew out some crossed Brandywine last year and the pollen parent could only have come from 70 -80 feet away. The bee nests where they are putting the pollen is most certainly further away than that so their round trip is who knows how far.

Excellent post, you have some pictures of those brilliant green bees. Wonderful.

[Quickstrike]

They could be Drone flies - which will also pollinate flowers.

[Indyartist]

Here is what the bright green bees are around here I think in NE Indiana,
Halictid Bee - Agapostemon virescens:

http://www.google.com/search?q=agapo...2&ved=0CCcQsAQ

[TZ-OH6]

I watched a couple battleing with potato flowers today, and the corn is starting to release pollen so they will be happier than pigs in slop.

[beeman]

It is generally accepted that Mason bees fly about 300 yards away from their nest site to forage. I would suggest these smaller bees are quite capable of that distance.

[jeffinjonestown]

Bags it is!