Bumblebee hive (sugar bag) for pollination of flowers
 
Bombus terrestris (bumblebees) 
Agrobio bumblebees contain earth bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Compared to other pollinating insects, bumblebees are very effective pollinators.

Product characteristics

• Very effective pollinators
• At delivery about 60 to 70 workers per bumblebee population. 
• Most active in the morning and afternoon, at 18°C to 28°C.
• Lifespan 8 to 10 weeks, of which the first six weeks are the most active.

Quality control
At Royal Brinkman, a team of specialists checks the quality of beneficial insects, mites and nematodes. Based on a protocol, they work to deliver the best quality to the customers.

Packaging
A standard bumblebee hive contains a bumblebee hive with an active queen and a growing bumblebee hive. The queen controls the hive with the help of workers who fly out to collect pollen for the larvae and workers who stay inside to build the hive and take care of and feed the larvae. A standard bumblebee hive consists of an easy to handle cardboard box, with a good ventilation system. The box contains a small box with a bumblebee's hive. On top of that is a reservoir with sugar water, from which the bumblebees get food through a fuse. The hive is equipped with a closing system, with which the bumblebee population can be closed. It is also possible to choose for one-way traffic (only in, only out) or two-way traffic.
 
A standard bumblebee hive is supplied with 60 to 70 workers and +/- 2,300 grams of sugar water. The lifespan of a standard bumblebee hive is, under optimal conditions, 8 to 10 weeks, of which they are most active in the first 6 weeks.

Instructions for use
Place the bumblebee hive horizontally, at least +/- 1 metre above the ground, in a place protected from the sun and moisture, between the crops on the path. If more than one bumblebee hive is placed, make sure that the flight openings point in the opposite direction. (E.g. the opening of hive 1 points to the east, then hive 2 points to the west, hive 3 points to the east, etc.) Bumblebees can be combined well with other biological beneficials. 
 
When applying a chemical correction, the effect of the pesticide on the bumblebee colonies should be considered beforehand (always consult the Royal Brinkman spray advice cards). If the chemical correction affects bumblebees, the bumblebees should be removed from the greenhouse and placed in a place where the conditions are approximately the same as in the greenhouse (18°C to 20°C). In preparation for moving, it is necessary to convert the flight opening to the unidirectional position (in) a few hours in advance. 
 
Storage and transport
Always check the product upon receipt. Place the bumblebees in the desired location within one hour after receipt and open the flight opening after +/- 1 hour. Open the bumblebee hive at the latest 2 hours before sunset or wait until sunrise the next morning. The bumblebee colonies can be temporarily stored at a temperature between 18°C and 20°C. 
 
Attention! Always transport the bumblebee colonies horizontally and place them in the greenhouse in a dry place in a horizontal position. Also check for hanging crop gutters! When the bumblebee hive is held at an angle or set at an angle, the sugar water runs out or the sugar wick may dry out prematurely, so that not all nutrients can be absorbed. Both situations have a negative influence on the functioning of the bumblebee population and the flowering.

Horizontal transport and placementis absolutely necessary!