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New research from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has found that plant species recommended as 'pollinator-friendly' in Europe need to start flowering in the spring for up to 1 year to effectively contribute to honey bee conservation. It turned out to be a month too late. This “starvation gap” results in low colony survival and reduced queen production the following year.
The results show that pollen and nectar availability during the early colony founding stage is an important, previously underappreciated, factor in honey bee colony success. Ta. The study was published in the journal Insect Conservation and Diversity.
Lead author Dr Tonya Lander (Department of Biology, University of Oxford) said: 'The results give us simple and practical recommendations to help bees. Colonization success rate for cherry, hawthorn, and willow has increased from 35% to 100%. This approach focuses on existing hedgerows within farmland and does not reduce crop acreage, making it appealing to land managers while also providing important conservation outcomes. Pollinator. ”
This study looked at two examples from Europe: the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestrisi) and the common bumblebee (B. pascuorum). These were assessed using the BEE-STEWARD model, which integrates data and runs simulations that predict how changes in various factors will affect bee populations over time.
The researchers investigated when bumblebees' demand for food (pollen and nectar) is highest during the year, how periods of food scarcity affect colony survival, and how food requirements influence colony composition (adults, nectar, etc.). We investigated how this is related to seasonal changes in the number of eggs, larvae, and pupae. ), and how the availability of early spring flowering plants affects colony survival and queen production.
As a result, bumble bees' food needs are highest from March to June, and food shortages during this critical period can have devastating effects on colony survival and queen production, increasing the risk of local populations becoming extinct. It was shown that March and her April are particularly critical months, where her two-week difference in feed availability can reduce daughter queen production by 50-87%.
Dr Matthias Boettcher (University of Exeter and Rifkon) said: 'We were surprised to find that a colony's demand for nectar and pollen is primarily driven by the number of larvae, rather than the number of adult workers. .This explains why the colony is in particularly high demand.” “Typically occurs in March and April before the adults forage outside the colony. The larvae require pollen for growth, and most of the energy from the nectar is used to thermoregulate the chicks. .”
Despite years of pollinator planting and conservation efforts, pollinator populations are still declining around the world. Very early spring flowers increase honey bee colony survival and queen production and may contribute to halting and reversing this decline.
Further information: Matthias A. Becher et al, Resource gap poses greatest threat to bumblebees during colony establishment stage, Insect Conservation and Diversity (2024). DOI: 10.1111/icad.12736
