On 8/9/2015 5:08 PM, Derald wrote:
"~misfit~" wrote:

Once upon a time on usenet Derald wrote:
"~misfit~" wrote:

So it seems I had half of the answer, knowing about 'buzz
pollination' of tomato flowers. A quick Google gave me the other
half (now that 10+ flowers have dropped off each of the two sprays).
An electric toothbrush seems to be the best way to pollinate tomato
flowers - the vibrations cause the pollen to fall onto the style the
same way as a bumble bees vibrations do.

Now I just need to find a cheap battery powerd toothbrush. I just
tickled the three or four remaining flowers with my Braun Oral-B but
it would be nicer to have a dedicated cheaper tool for the job.

Good idea. How do you know which model to use? Seems to me one
would need to try to match the bumblebees' frequencies.

A quick 'pop-science' article on buzz pollination;
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/sc...buzz.html?_r=0

After a bit of research it seems that there's a range of frequencies that
work. Different (non-apis) bees used for tomato pollination produce
different frequencies. Here in NZ we have four species of bumble bee and,
while I was unable to find their 'sonication' (buzz pollination) frequencies
it seems they all manage the job. From what I've been able to find nobody
has researched the frequency of whatever native bee evolved alongside the
various Solanaceae varities.

I live in the middle of NZs main market garden area (Pukekohe) and there is
a company which supplies especially designed cardboard bumble bees nests
complete with inhabitants to greenhouses (along with parasitic wasps that
prey on aphids and a whole bunch of other beneficial insects). I used to
know someone, a friend of a friend, who worked for them but that was a long
time ago. This isn't that company - they were commercial only.
http://www.biobees.co.nz/Product.html However it seems that, in the last few
years a few outfits have sprung up doing similar things.
A casual Google search hit on several online sources here in the
States, all selling Bombus bees under the same brand name (Natupol).
Although all provide instructions for use, none of them advises how to
maintain a viable local bee population. Why would that be, one
wonders....

As for electronic solutions there are several on the market - again domestic
and commercial units, and again I'm having trouble finding out about
commercial units as they all seem to have their websites 'gated' behind
customer log-ins. They don't want to be bothered by the hoi polloi. As far
as domestic buzz pollination devices go the most common cheap single speed
device runs at 38,000 vibrations per minute (38kvpb)which is equal to 633Hz
http://www.amazon.com/VegiBee-Garden...S166DSHFJ2G K
and their more expensive multi-speed model
http://www.amazon.com/VegiBee-Garden.../dp/B00CJHMMXA
has five settings from 29kvpm to 44kvpm or 483 to 733Hz. Alas I'm yet to
find a NZ supplier.

I would hazard a guess that the single speed 38kvpm model is aimed mainly at
tomatoes and the multispeed model can be used more efficiently with other
species of plants that require buzz pollination.
Not bad. The single-speed battery jobbie can be had for roughly
$19.00 (US) plus shipping here. I'd still try an off-the-rack
supermarket toothbrush first, though.

Just happen to have one that I don't use much, may give it a try next
season on the tomatoes. That's if I don't see any pollinators as
happened this year. I hope the A holes who sprayed around here by air
and the builders who destroyed a virgin forest behind us have a bad crop
too.