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A Question About Mexican Melapona Bees & Vanilla Growing

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by kenmce, Aug 2, 2020.

  1. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    The vanilla plant comes from Mexico. In Mexico there are little stingless Melipona bees that pollinate the plant. The vines have been moved to Madagascar and Indonesia, where they grow well, but have no suitable pollinators, so people pollinate them by hand. The plants are very delicate and fussy, so this is insanely labor intensive

    Why doesn't anyone just keep Mexican bees in their orchards to pollinate their Mexican vines?
     
    #1 kenmce, Aug 2, 2020
  2. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The bees have been kept in the past, and some people still do. But Melipona are sensitive to pesticides, and Mexican vanilla plantations have to hand pollinate after years of pesticide use.
     
    #2 Trollbait, Aug 2, 2020
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  3. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Orchid greenhouse is huge effort and successful ones are worth visiting. One near Joshua Tree in CA Mojave desert is amazing for being so improbably placed. Adding a Melipona 'log' seems feasible but it seems like a question for greenies who have tried and failed or succeeded.
     
    #3 tochatihu, Aug 2, 2020
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    people need jobs, not so much bees
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 2, 2020
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    [​IMG]

    Bob Wilson
     
    #5 bwilson4web, Aug 3, 2020
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  6. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Don't dis the bees @bisco
     
    #6 tochatihu, Aug 8, 2020
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    too late, they have their eyes on me every time i go out in the yard
     
    #7 bisco, Aug 9, 2020
  8. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    If they are Melipona, they can only bite you.
     
    #8 Trollbait, Aug 9, 2020
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