Chandra M. Walter

Eluned M. Blows

Francis L. W. Ratnieks

Karin L. Alton

Margaret J. Couvillon

Tomer J. Czaczkes

Psyche : A Journal of Entomology

We quantified insect visitation rates by counting how many flowers/inflorescences were probed per unit time for five plant species (four native and one garden: California lilac, bramble, ragwort, wild marjoram, and ivy) growing in Sussex, United Kingdom, by following individual insects (n=2987) from nine functional groups (honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumble bees (Bombusspp.), hoverflies, flies, butterflies, beetles, wasps, non-Apidae bees, and moths). Additionally, we made a census of the insect diversity on the studied plant species. Overall we found that insect groups differed greatly in their rate of flower visits (P&lt;2.2e-16), with bumble bees and honey bees visiting significantly more flowers per time (11.5 and 9.2 flowers/minute, resp.) than the other insect groups. Additionally, we report on a within-group difference in the non-Apidae bees, where the genusOsmia, which is often suggested as an alternative to honey bees as a managed pollinator, was very speedy (13.4 flowers/minute) compared to the other non-Apidae bees (4.3 flowers/minute). Our census showed that the plants attracted a range of insects, with the honey bee as the most abundant visitor (34%). Therefore, rate differences cannot be explained by particular specializations. Lastly, we discuss potential implications of our conclusions for pollination.</jats:p

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Psyche A Journal of Entomology

Busy Bees: Variation in Insect Flower-Visiting Rates across Multiple Plant Species

http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/2015/134630.pdf

Busy Bees: Variation in Insect Flower-Visiting Rates across Multiple Plant Species

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