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Help! I had this problem last year to. Last year, at least 100 bumble bees each and every day attacked all of my corns tassels, stealing the pollen to feed their babies. ( it took an exaustive amount of research to find this all out). Short of pesticide dusts, what can I do. I am afraid the pesticide dusts will get absorbed into the pollens and contaminate the corn crop. Last year I watched helplessly, This years corn crop is really looking strong so far.
Please help
Thanks
i would recomend planting flowers
I confess to being a little confused by this, can I ask how specifically the bees are damaging your corn tassles?
Sure bees take pollen as it's a good source of protein for their young. And I suspect that corn is wind pollinated naturally but bees going from one to the other will surely help?
Are you worried about protein loss?
Dave :confused:
Aren't bumble bees protected in law? They should be. There is apparently a world-wide shortage of bees and growers desperately need them to pollinate flowers. They don't do any harm to plants so please don't kill them.
In the UK they are protected. I do not know about the US
bees don't steal pollen, they take nectar, totally different substance.
Bees do actually take the pollen from Corn
Corn is self pollenating so don't require any help from Bees
However, this won't have any detrimental effect whatsoever on your corn crop, and may provide beneficial effects in other ways
As you stated "This years corn crop is really looking strong so far"
The mere action of 1 bumblebee landing on the tassels realeases a cloud of pollen sufficent to pollinate all silks in a ear...
Corn is wind pollinated primarily, I walk through my corn when it's tasseling stiring up a cloud of pollen. bee's would be a good thing, and as Tatws stated...No detremental effects from these marvelous helpers.
Also, If you plant your corn in blocks (and you should be) pollination will be enhanced..always plant at least 4 rows, even if they are short rows...
A much worse thing that can happen is a week of DOWN POURS, or watering overhead while the plants are shedding pollen