Imported bumblebees expected to boost yields

Customs officers check bumblebees imported from Belgium at Qingdao Liuting International Airport in Shandong province on March 9. LIU MIN/FOR CHINA DAILY Three thousand queen bumblebees from Belgium that arrived in Qingdao, Shandong province, a few days ago are expected to give a boost to greenhouse crops in northern China, as spring plowing gets into full swing across the country. "The market has seen an increase in demand for imported bumblebees in recent years, as the swarms' pollination efficiency is usually five to 10 times faster than that of honeybees," said Wei Hongjiang, sales manager at Biobest China, a biotech company. "The imported queen bumblebees have strong reproductive capabilities and the swarms they form are usually of high vitality," said Wei, adding that efficient pollination can improve the quality of crops. "We will continue to monitor the use of bumblebees after they are handed over to importers or growers," said Zhan Yifei, a Customs officer at Qingdao Liuting International Airport.