Bee Basics - USDA Forest Service - US Department of Agriculture

They show no hesitation when approaching a squash flower, plunging rightin, gathering pollen and/or nectar and quickly leaving. Honey bees, on theother hand, arrive later in the day once the flowers are past their prime. Theyalso take extra time hovering over flowers and visiting them with a slowerforaging tempo. Even with honey bee hives nearby, it is estimated that squashbees do many times more pollination per flower per unit time than honey bees.Cucurbit crop growers are very aware of their value as pollinators. These beesoften nest underground beneath the very plants they will pollinate. If you areone of those who pick up your own pumpkin to make a Jack-o-lantern, you willbe walking over nests full of developing young squash bees.Females of the common squash bee(Peponapis pruinosa) visiting afemale pumpkin blossom (Cucurbitapepo or C. mixta).19