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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (8): 40-44.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb14110079

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Behavioral Characteristics of Osmia and Its Application Prospects in Crop Pollination

Wu Cuicui1,2, Li Pengbo1,2,3, Cao Meilian1,2, Cao Cairong1,2, Yang Liuliu1,2, Ren Wenbin1, Liu Huimin1,3   

  1. (1Cotton Research Institute, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yuncheng Shanxi 044000; 2Shanxi Key Laboratory of Cotton Germplasm Resources Utilization and Molecular Design Breeding, Yuncheng Shanxi 044000; 3Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement on Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Taiyuan Shanxi 030031)
  • Received:2014-11-13 Revised:2015-03-02 Accepted:2015-01-29 Online:2015-04-07 Published:2015-04-07

Abstract: The pollinating insects play an important role in entomophilous crops production. Osmia is a kind of wild bees distributed around the globe and has been rapidly applied to crop pollination in recent years. Osmia acts and pollinates the flowering plants usually in early spring. Compared to honeybee, Osmia has some features such as resistance to low temperature, high flower-visiting rate, good pollination effect and easy management. Research and application of Osmia in China were launched relatively late, but have made considerable progress quickly in recent years. In this paper, we summarized species, life history, pollination characters of Osmia, expounded the remarkable economic benefit that had been achieved in fruit plants by applying Osmia, and had an outlook on the future applications of this insect in the field crops. At the same time, we stated several aspects needed to be attended when using Osmia. Pollination by Osmia could meet the needs of economy, efficiency and environmental friendship in crop production, and would be a key technology in the development of modern agricultural products.