Eggplant
Pollination Solutions
Solanum melongena
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) requires vibration to release pollen from the anthers — making bumblebees particularly well suited to greenhouse crops where natural pollinators are limited.
Zonda bumblebee hives provide reliable buzz pollination throughout the flowering period, supporting consistent fruit set for New Zealand eggplant growers.
Eggplant Flower Biology
- The eggplant flower is hermaphroditic, self-pollinating, and hangs downward from the plant. It produces no nectar.
- The stamens form a loose ring around the pistil with openings at their tips; the stigma typically protrudes slightly beyond this ring.
- A small movement of the flower is sufficient to transfer pollen from the stamens onto the stigma, though cross-pollination can also occur.
- Bumblebees pollinate eggplant by hanging upside down on the flower, gripping a stamen and vibrating it using their flight muscles — a behaviour known as buzz pollination.
- In fine-flowered varieties, this leaves slight tissue discolouration on the flower, indicating a successful visit and fruit set.
When to Introduce Bumblebee Hives for Eggplant Pollination
For pollination of eggplant crops, MEDIUM colonies are normally recommended.
On delivery, a MEDIUM colony contains 50–70 worker bees and a queen, with a typical lifespan of four to six weeks depending on crop conditions.
Each hive covers approximately 2,000 m². For smaller growing areas, a different hive size may be recommended.
Introduce hives at early flowering and distribute evenly throughout the greenhouse to encourage effective pollination across the crop canopy.
Bumblebee Hives for Eggplant Pollination
Explore Zonda Beneficials bumblebee hives for greenhouse pollination to support eggplant crop production.
Small Hive
up to 750 m²
Contains approximately 50 worker bees.
Large Hive
1100 m² to 1500 m²
Contains approximately 80–100 worker bees.
Bumblebee Hive Placement and Use
- Introduce colonies when the first flowers are open.
- Place hives on a sturdy support approximately 50 cm above the ground — sunny in spring, shaded later in the season.
- Secure hives to prevent ant access.
- After placement, allow bees to settle for 30–60 minutes before opening the flight hole.
- Bumblebees will begin pollinating shortly after their initial orientation flights.
- Bumblebees are most active between 15–25°C, and will work in temperatures from 10–30°C.
Bumblebee Safety and Crop Protection
- Bumblebees are compatible with natural enemies and biological control programmes.
- Agricultural chemicals can affect bumblebees directly (killing workers or larvae through contact or ingestion) or indirectly (treated flowers may deter foraging visits).
- Systemic pesticides absorbed through roots can have long-lasting effects. In crops that produce both nectar and pollen (e.g. sweet pepper), the impact on the colony can be significantly greater than in pollen-only crops (e.g. tomato).
- Detailed information on pesticide compatibility is available in Zonda’s Side Effects Guide.
- Before any crop treatment, activate the BEEHOME option to allow bees to enter but not leave the hive. After approximately one hour, the hive can be fully closed and either covered or removed from the crop.
- If temporarily removed, store the hive at 18–20°C.