EXPORTATION OF HUMBLE BEES TO NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5600, 5 February 1879, Page 7

EXPORTATION OF HUMBLE BEES TO NEW ZEALAND.

Hr W. B. Tegetmier writes in the Fidd : The remarkable fact that the self-fertilisa-Uoncf Sower* is the exception to the rule, and in many eases impracticable, and that in the economy of nature each plant has its own appropriate insect or insects, which carry the pollen of one flower to another of the same kind, is one of those discoveries the full elucidation of which we owe to the patient labours of Mr C. Darwin. At present the i is well known 5 and the want of fertile ' *eeos in the red clover, when grown in New , Zealand and other countries of the southern hemisphere, i- ascertained to be due to the absence of the various species of Bombus or humble bee that in the northern zone carry from one flower to another. In 1&75 a perfectly hopeless attempt was made to convey humble bees to the antipodes, by •ending the nest of the “ moss builders" containing unimpregnated females. It is needless to state that it was unsuccessful. In the Esent year, I am informed, a second attempt been mads by capturing the insects on the wing, placing them in a large cage, with Qoss and honey for food, and sending by steamer. Success can hardly be anticipated ■ from such an effort. The utter collapse of the first attempt was predicted in The Field of Nov. 13, 1875, by Mr Fred, Smith, of the British Museum, in a communication in which he showed the causes of failure, and indicated the only right i of procedure. Mr Smith wrote as i follows

; , *[hl slate what I believe to be the only plan that can be adopted with any hope of i ITT' dn ‘ be hrst P'acc. 1 should not think I ■ 1 to introduce any surface building species. I should select two or three of e lardieet ones, such as Bumhua terretiris, . luconm, B. horiorum, and li. tuhlerranta. i JL°- r 10 I ” a ' te the chance of success us H ai . n 83 P°*sible, I should take care to send 1 nt*l- lm f re S te males : these can now be B p, u ned ’ a l * le bumble bees having retired H f. r „, 1 f Lr Wln *^ r quarters. A number of such I Bf| Pr ,t!c Were re q u * r ed some years ago for B wtir. aC P} ir P 0 * eB ’> a collector was employed, ■ Tt.P under my own instructions. ■ ,-p. Wft ? ‘hat he obtained in a few days ■ clan f fj n ? a ! B ’ aU in a torpid state. My ■ Lea 40 6et a nu mber of such torpid B of i-’pf • v 80m , e the best known means I tom?dhf!? ■"’ H e P them “ a stage of I tomnh!^^ Unng tbo T °jag o : this once ac- ■ bees P snrri ’ B ? ccess w °uld bo certain. Humble B aod thpv T 6 f ° Ur 0r r Ve mont bs of torpidity, M shorter timTtl “o be ei P orted in a much ■ v?" Ume than five months.” ■ o Di itbe B “bj ect having been ■ «Wce^ri?BmiS y a v Ull - d t myeelf of the ■ torpid lnf °rmed mo that ■ w&bedft*"?? 1 ®* 0 * our hardier Bombi H the time reqUired number afc B tor with cerSnt v^ he fu ln t ects ma - T be ■ needle-lit i Ibe&pa of decaying I baronet, who four r entomological ■ I saint. requiredU™ 6 * a J, ea f 18 eternised as ■ dlB8 <iotion. q ile natural/ erllle . humble bees for ■ rho requested ap P Ued , to Mr Smith, B £ SCc ure them, directinal” * ork,n ßcollector B turze bushes at tl g b,m to ?carch under B S f?reachß P«cimen S o m m l t,n,e offerin g B ‘he insect lr Bbort tlme after. H tur ued him hifrr on Mr Smith, and re’ H Sa Pr ° fltable for a

might hare beggared any other saint in the calendar.

As in this condition of torpidity the beet naturally remain for four or five months, there could be no difficulty in sending them to any part of the world by a steamship haying a supply of ice on board. It is therefore to be regretted that expense and trouble should be incurred by attempts which are necessarily hopeless, because they are in direct opposition to thAnatural habits of the insect.