Exploratory comparison of flower visiting behavior and pollination ability of mason bees, bumble bees, and honey bees

Author:

Lyu Zhaoyun1ORCID,Zhou Ting2,Sun Meng1,Feng Min2,Guo Wenxiu2ORCID,Nie Lei1,Song Yingying2ORCID,Men Xingyuan2,Li Lili2,Yu Yi2

Affiliation:

1. Shandong Sericulture Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Yantai, Shandong 264002 , China

2. Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Jinan, Shandong 250100 , China

Abstract

Abstract This study explored the flower visiting behaviors and pollination abilities of mason bees (Osmia excavata Alfken (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)), bumble bees (Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)), and Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) in apple orchards in early spring in Jinan (located in the central region of Shandong) and Yantai (located in the Peninsula of Shandong). We compared the pollen collection patterns, flower visiting behavior, flying speed, and effects on apple pollination of the 3 types of bees. The frequencies of flower visits were significantly higher for mason bees (12.89/min in Jinan and 10.63/min in Yantai) than bumble bees and Italian honey bees in the 2 regions. The single flower residence times were significantly higher for Italian honey bees (8.22 s in Jinan and 9.43 s in Yantai), but Italian honey bees were most affected by the climate. The 3 bees differed significantly in terms of the amount of apple pollen collected and their effects on the fruit setting rate in apples (mason bees > bumble bees > Italian honey bees). The results showed that the mason bee was the most suitable pollinating species for spring apple orchards; Bumble bees were more suitable as alternative pollinators during cloudy and low temperatures; Italian honey bees were able to take advantage of their large number of worker bees in sunny and warm weather. Compared to individual bee species, a combination of 2 or 3 species of bees might be more advantageous in dealing with complex and variable weather conditions.

Funder

Science and Technology Plan Project of Yantai

Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation

Key R&D Program of Shandong Province

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Insect Science,Ecology,General Medicine

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