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Growing Tomatoes

Green metallic / Sweat bee pollinators

14 years ago

In the past I've had problems with blossom drop on my Mortgage Lifters. This year I've noticed 1 or 2 of these insects flying from one blossom to another amazingly pollinating every blossom on my plants. I did a search to discover their identity. There's a beautiful youtube video of this tiny green bee in action. Has anyone else had the fortune of seeing these beautiful insects in their gardens?

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Comments (3)

dickiefickle
14 years ago
Tomatoes are self pollinating and no bees are needed at all.
carolyn137
14 years ago
Yes, sweat bees are one of the most common pollinators of tomato blossoms, but oh so tiny and I've never seen them myself but have seen pictures that others have taken of VERY close up shots of them.

Carolyn
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per2011
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes according to the experts, "Tomatoes are self pollinating and no bees are needed at all"; however my real world situation in my garden, these bees have helped greatly increase the number of blossoms that actually set.

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