PubMed · 2026-06-23
Stingless bees (Tetragonula pagdeni) significantly boost brown mustard seed yields when installed directly in open fields, outperforming caged or greenhouse setups. The study maps which wild bees are the most effective mustard pollinators and shows that managed stingless bee hives can help offset pollinator decline in oilseed crops.
Open-field stingless bee installation produced the highest seed yield at 1,311.66 kg/ha, compared to 856.23 kg/ha in netted fields and 901.86 kg/ha in greenhouse conditions.
Mustard flowers peaked in nectar and pollen availability between 8:00 and 12:00 h, coinciding with the highest abundance and diversity of flower visitors.
Five native bee species were identified as the most effective pollinators based on pollination service index values: Apis cerana, Apis florea, Ceratina binghami, Lasioglossum cavernifrons, and Tetragonula pagdeni.
