List of crop plants pollinated by bees
Pollination by insects is called entomophily. Entomophily is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by insects, particularly bees, Lepidoptera (e.g. butterflies and moths), flies and beetles.
| Common name | Latin name | Pollinator | Commercial product of pollination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okra | Abelmoschus esculentus | Honey bee | insect pollination is not essential but fruit yield increases with insect pollinators |
| Kiwifruit | Actinidia deliciosa | Honey bee | fruit |
| Onion | Allium cepa | Honey bee | seed |
| Celery | Apium graveolens | Honey bee | seed |
| Carambola | Averrhoa carambola | Honey bee | fruit |
| Rapeseed | Brassica napus | Honey bee | seed |
| Broccoli | Brassica oleracea cultivar | Honey bee | seed |
| Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group | Honey bee | seed |
| Cabbage | Brassica oleracea Capitata Group | Honey bee | seed |
| Brussels sprouts | Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group | Honey bee | seed |
| Chinese cabbage | Brassica rapa | Honey bee | seed |
| Turnip | Brassica rapa | Honey bee | seed |
| Mustard | Brassica spp. | Honey bee | seed |
| Caraway | Carum carvi | Honey bee | seed |
| Chestnut | Castanea spp. | Honey bee | nut |
| Watermelon | Citrullus lanatus | Honey bee | fruit |
| Tangerine | Citrus reticulata | Honey bee | fruit? |
| Tangelo | Citrus spp. | Honey bee | fruit? |
| Hazelnut | Corylus cornuta var. californica | Honey bee | nut |
| Cantaloupe | Cucumis melo | Honey bee | fruit |
| Safflower | Carthamus tinctorius | Honey bee | seed |
| Cucumber | Cucumis sativus | Honey bee, Bumble bee | fruit |
| Squash (plant) | Cucurbita spp. | Honey bee, Squash bee | fruit |
| Carrot | Daucus carota | Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee | seed |
| Buckwheat | Fagopyrum esculentum | Honey bee | seed |
| Strawberry | Fragaria spp. | Honey bee | fruit |
| Soybean | Glycine max | Honey bee | seed |
| Cotton | Gossypium spp. | Honey bee, Bumble bee | seed, fiber |
| Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Honey bee | seed |
| Walnut | Juglans spp. | Honey bee | nut |
| Flax | Linum spp. | Honey bee | seed |
| Lychee | Litchi chinensis | Honey bee | fruit |
| Macadamia | Macadamia spp. | Honey bee | nut |
| Apple | Malus domestica, or Malus sylvestris | Honey bee | fruit |
| Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | Honey bee, Alfalfa leafcutter bee | seed |
| Cactus | Opuntia spp. | Honey bee | |
| Avocado | Persea americana | Honey bee | fruit |
| Lima bean | Phaseolus lunatus | Honey bee | seed |
| Plum | Prunus spp. | Honey bee | fruit |
| Cherry | Prunus spp. | Honey bee | fruit |
| Apricot | Prunus armeniaca | Honey bee | fruit |
| Almond | Prunus dulcis, Prunus amygdalus, or Amygdalus communis | Honey bee | nut |
| Pear | Pyrus communis | Honey bee | fruit |
| Boysenberry | Rubus spp. | Honey bee | fruit |
| Blackberry | Rubus fruticosus | Honey bee | fruit |
| Redwood | Sequoia sempervirens | Honey bee | |
| Tomato | Solanum lycopersicum | Bumblebee | fruit (Greenhouse tomato) Insect pollination is not essential but fruit yield increases with insect pollinators. |
| Eggplant | Solanum melongena | Honey bee | fruit |
| Clover (not all species) | Trifolium spp. | Honey bee | seed |
| Alsike clover | Trifolium spp. | Honey bee | seed |
| White clover | Trifolium alba | Honey bee | seed |
| Crimson clover | Trifolium incarnatum | Honey bee | seed |
| Red clover | Trifolium pratense | Honey bee | seed |
| Blueberry | Vacciniumspp. | Honey bee, Alfalfa leafcutter bee | fruit |
| Cranberry | Vaccinium oxycoccus | Honey bee | fruit |
| Tung tree | Vernicia fordii | Honey bee | seed |
| Broad bean | Vicia faba | Honey bee | seed |
| Grape | Vitis spp. | Honey bee | fruit |
Sources
- Mussen, Eric Impact of Honey Bees on the California Environment University of California Davis , 2002
- POLLINATION Mid-Atlantic Apicultural Research and Extension Consortium, MAAREC Publication 5.2; February 2000
- Pollination and Bee Plants, Excerpted from Beekeeper's Handbook, Sammataro/Avitabile ©1998.