Abstract
Most studies on bee pollen diet are based on the abundance of each pollen type composing honey or pollen stores of whole nests (pollen counts). In an effort to characterize the diet of the augochlorine bee Augochlora amphitrite, we employed nest and intra-nest pollen analyses and bee flower visitation. In addition, we tested a novel approach, the index of relative importance (IRI), a method that combines pollen counts, pollen volume, and frequency of pollen occurrence. Using nest pollen analysis, we found that the Ludwigia type dominated pollen counts, comprising 56 % of whole nests, and thus would have concluded that this is the only most important pollen source in the diet. Instead, we found seven other important sources including Ipomoea alba, Ipomoea cairica, Gymnocoronis spilanthoides, and Pavonia types as well as 26 new floral hosts using all four methods in combination. Thus, we recommend that other studies of bee diet include these other approaches when possible and, especially, the novel approach of IRI.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.