Bees (and other insects) play a minor role in the pollination of the vine, which is mainly done by self-pollination or self-pollination (see also flowering). Bees occur to an insignificant extent as vine pests. The mouthparts of the bee are lick-sucking. The very small upper jaws chew, the lower jaws and the lip palps form a suction tube with which nectar can be taken from the flower. In contrast, wasps do not have a proboscis for sucking up nectar, but biting mouthparts with paired upper jaws (mandibles) and lower jaws. In contrast to wasps, bees cannot bite open the skin of grapes, but can only press on fine hairline cracks with their heads, where they then suck up the sweet juice that emerges. However, they also participate in the preparatory work of the berries bitten by wasps. See also organic viticulture, beneficial inse cts and vine enemies.
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Roman Horvath MW
Domäne Wachau (Wachau)