Method for increasing pollination in crops susceptible to pollination of invertebrates of the apideae families

A method for increasing bee performance, comprising:

• providing a pollen supplement composition;
• and
• administering a pollen supplement composition to invertebrates of the Apidae families (bees), in particular honey bees (Apini), bumble bees (Bombini), or stingless honey bees (Meliponini);
• wherein the pollen supplement composition is administered during the pollination period to bees deployed for pollination of the agricultural or horticultural crops susceptible of pollination by bees;
• wherein the pollen supplement composition compensates one or more dietary deficits in the pollen of the agricultural or horticultural crops;
• and
• optionally wherein the pollen supplement composition comprises one or more of:
• fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids is 5:1 to 1:20, preferably from 5:1 to 1:10, even more preferably from 2:1 to 1:5 (omega-6:
• omega-3) and wherein the omega-6 fatty acid preferably is linoleic acid and/or wherein the omega-3 fatty acid preferably is α-linolenic acid;
• sterols in an amount from 0.01 w % to 4 w % wherein the sterols preferably are one or more of cholesterol, 24-methylene cholesterol, fucosterol, isofucosterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol;
• and even more preferably comprise all aforementioned sterols;
• and/or
• proanthocyanidins in amount from 0.001 w % to 1 w %;
• wherein the pollen supplement composition is free of pollen or comprises minor amounts of pollen as an appetizer, preferably less than 15 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 10 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 5 w % of pollen,
• and wherein the w % is as compared to the total dry weight of the pollen supplement composition providing agricultural or horticultural crops.

A method for recovering performance of bees after the deployment for pollination of agricultural or horticultural crops susceptible of pollination by invertebrates of the Apidae families (bees), in particular honey bees (Apini), bumble bees (Bombini), or stingless honey bees (Meliponini), such as in a holding yard, comprising:

• providing agricultural or horticultural crops;
• providing one or more beehives within or in the immediate vicinity of the agricultural or horticultural crops to pollinate the agricultural or horticultural crops during the pollination period of the agricultural or horticultural crops or greenhouse crops or partially covered crops, in particular tunnel crops;
• administering to the beehives a pollen supplement composition
• Optionally during a part or the full pollination period of the agricultural or horticultural crops;
• and/or
• During transportation from one crop to another crop;
• and/or
• in the holding yards;
• wherein the pollen supplement composition compensates for one or more dietary deficits in the amount or quality of the pollen of the agricultural or horticultural crops;
• and/or in the environment;
• wherein the pollen supplement composition is free of pollen or comprises minor amounts of pollen, preferably less than 15 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 10 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 5 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 1 w % of pollen;
• optionally wherein the pollen supplement composition comprises one or more of:
• fatty acids comprising omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids wherein the ratio of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids is 5:1 to 1:20, preferably from 5:1 to 1:10, even more preferably from 2:1 to 1:5 (omega-6:
• omega-3) and wherein the omega-6 fatty acid preferably is linoleic acid and/or wherein the omega-3 fatty acid preferably is α-linolenic acid;
• and/or
• sterols in an amount from 0.01 w % to 4 w % wherein the sterols preferably are one or more of cholesterol, 24-methylene cholesterol, fucosterol, isofucosterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol;
• and even more preferably comprise all aforementioned sterols;
• and/or
• proanthocyanidins (multimers and/or monomers or their glucosides) in amount from 0.001 w % to 1 w %;
• and wherein the w % is as compared to the total dry weight of the pollen supplement composition.

A method for preparing bees for deployment in pollination of agricultural or horticultural crops susceptible of pollination by invertebrates of the Apidae families (bees), in particular honey bees (Apini), bumble bees (Bombini), or stingless honey bees (Meliponini), such as in a holding yard, comprising:

• providing a pollen supplement composition;
• and
• administering a pollen supplement composition to bees in advance of their deployment for pollination of agricultural or horticultural crops susceptible of pollination by bees;
• providing agricultural or horticultural crops;
• providing one or more beehives within or in the immediate vicinity of the agricultural or horticultural crops to pollinate the agricultural or horticultural crops during the pollination period of the agricultural or horticultural crops or greenhouse crops or partially covered crops, in particular tunnel crops;
• administering to the beehives a pollen supplement composition
• during a part or the full pollination period of the agricultural or horticultural crops;
• and/or
• during transportation from one crop to another crop;
• and/or
• in the holding yards;
• wherein the pollen supplement composition compensates for one or more dietary deficits in the amount or quality of the pollen of the agricultural or horticultural crops;
• and/or in the environment;
• wherein the pollen supplement composition is free of pollen or comprises minor amounts of pollen, preferably less than 15 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 10 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 5 w % of pollen, even more preferably less than 1 w % of pollen;
• optionally wherein the pollen supplement composition comprises one or more of:
• fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids is 5:1 to 1:20, preferably from 5:1 to 1:10, even more preferably from 2:1 to 1:5 (omega-6:
• omega-3) and wherein the omega-6 fatty acid preferably is linoleic acid and/or wherein the omega-3 fatty acid preferably is α-linolenic acid;
• and/or
• sterols in an amount from 0.01 w % to 4 w % wherein the sterols preferably are one or more of cholesterol, 24-methylene cholesterol, fucosterol, isofucosterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol;
• and even more preferably comprise all aforementioned sterols;
• and/or
• proanthocyanidins (multimers and/or monomers or their glucosides) in amount from 0.001 w % to 1 w %;
• and wherein the w % is as compared to the total dry weight of the pollen supplement composition.