The foraging behavior of the European honeybee, Apis mellifera, on honeysuckle, Lonicera spp.

Abstract

Apis mellifera, the European honeybee, is a common pollinator of flowering plants. Its nectar-gathering habits have associated costs and benefits and may be influenced by a variety of factors, including floral color, floral density, and light intensity in the foraging area. In the field, we observed the visitation rates of honeybees and other insects on several patches of honeysuckle, Lonicera spp., that combined these three variables. Honeybees showed an overall preference for white blossoms over pink blossoms, patches of high floral density over low floral density, and areas in direct sunlight over those in the shade. Among other pollinators (including wasps, bumblebees, native bee species, bee mimic flies, moths, flies and butterflies), similar patterns of preference emerged. While other pollinators showed no preference between white and pink blossoms, they preferred to forage in patches of high floral density and higher sunlight exposure. Such comparisons between honeybees and other pollinators may have critical implications for the honeysuckle plant. Given that both honeybees and other pollinators prefer foraging in high density, high sunlight patches, those plants that do not meet these conditions will have lower overall visitation rates, lowering reproductive success. Pollinator visitation rates will be enhanced for honeysuckle plants that combine the optimal conditions of high floral density and high sunlight exposure.