Honey bee attractants are not novel, but the time is right to continue to investigate their importance in the growing fruit industry. Due to pollinator declines, potential honey bee attractants have been used for the purpose of improving and increasing pollination services by bees. Polynate(TM) is a potential product manufactured for this purpose that contains a synthetic mixture similar to that of the Nasonov pheromone in honey bees. In this thesis, two main objectives are investigated: 1) to determine the ability of Nasonov based dispensers to increase fruit set and visitation in blueberries, apples and cherries and 2) to quantify behavioral changes associated with dispenser application. The first objective was accomplished by assessing the differences in forager visitation rates and fruit yield in crops treated and untreated with Nasonov based dispensers. The second objective was accomplished by directly observing the responses of honey bees in a hoop house when exposed to Nasonov based dispensers on artificial feeders. Dispensers did not increase fruit set or forager activity in blueberries, apples or cherries. A half rate of Polynate also did not cause a difference between treated and untreated areas. Given a choice between two identical feeders, one treated with a dispenser and one not, the honey bees had no visible preference. -- Abstract.
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