The Foraging Behaviour of Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and Bumblebees (Bombus Spp.) on Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and Strawberry (Fragaria x Ananassa) Flowers

Abstract

Honeybee colonies in fruit orchards often collect much dandelion pollen. Bees visting dandelion become conditioned to it and, even when the dandelion flowers close at midday or early afternoon, only a small percentage of bees change to fruit. Elimination of dandelions from orchards should increase the pollinating efficiency of the honeybee colonies present. When dandelion pollen is plentiful nectar-gatherers become dusted with it, but most of them comb it from their bodies and discard it.