In our previous post we stated:
"Our initial effort will address two key limitations of our 2019 efforts:
1. Bee dispersal: When released the bees simply flew away. Where to? We don't know.
2. Quantity and quality of pollen: The Arizona locations had limited flowering plants to provide pollen for the bees."
To address these two limitations our first 2020 Research Project will be to propagate BOBs in an enclosed space where flowering plants will be supplemented by additional food resources.
Specifically we will use a small greenhouse in Gilbert, AZ as the enclosed space.
Our previous measurement showed that the temperatures in the greenhouse reached 100 deg F and above when the ambient temperature was in the 70s.
For this reason we replaced two of the upper clear panels with screens. This reduces the peak temperature to the 90s.
To address the second limitation, we plan to supplement, or augment, the food/pollen supply with non-flower supplied pollen and sugar water. This is an example of inexpensive (~$18/lbs), commercially available "bee feed".
We set up the greenhouse (Site1a2g)...
... and included a plastic sheet over the door to allow a "double door" entry preventing the bees from escaping.
In addition to the temperature and humidity data logger, we have placed a Q5 Wansview video camera in the greenhouse to provide real time and/or recorded video and audio.
Next we will place the bees (actually cocoons) in the Site1a2g greenhouse.
Note that we also plan to replicate the general setup immediately adjacent to the greenhouse to serve as a control test case. It will have the same elements EXCEPT for the enclosed space attribute.
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