| Effective
insect pollination is essential for good fruit set and yield in mango
(Mangifera indica ). Insects visiting mango bloom were collected for 3
years (1994-96) in 10 commercial orchards located in all major
mango-growing areas in Israel. Forty-six distinct species or types (not
identified to the species level) were found, most belonged to the orders
Diptera (26), Hymenoptera (12) and Coleoptera (6). The following
species played a significant role in mango pollination in most orchards:
two blow flies (Chrysomya albiceps and Lucilia sericata ), the honeybee
(Apis mellifera ) and the housefly (Musca domestica ). Found in only
one or two orchards, in medium to large numbers, were: the hover fly
Episyrphus balfeatus , the wasp Bembecinus tridens , and two beetles,
Cantharis atropoveolatus and Omophlus syriacus . The effectiveness of
12 pollinators was assessed in one orchard. Blow flies were found to be
as effective as the honeybee, whereas the housefly was less so. Yield
of small caged 'Keitt' mango trees was minuscule (1 kg/tree), whereas
open-pollinated trees carried a good crop of 61 kg/tree. The
introduction of three pollinators, the honeybee, the bumblebee (Bombus
terrestris ) and the housefly, resulted in higher yield. |
