Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Foraging on American Cranberry in Massachusetts

Abstract

Abstract We studied diversity and abundance of bees foraging on Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry) flowers in southeastern Massachusetts during 8 bloom periods between 2007 and 2016. We documented 6 families, 20 genera, and 72 species of bees. Only Bombus (bumble bee) species were abundant in any of the collection years. Ways in which the upland areas surrounding cultivated cranberry beds and American Cranberry itself may be inhospitable for many small-bodied bee populations with limited flight ranges are reviewed. Bombus dominated (>90%) the collection. Comparison with observations in the first half of the 20th century, together with collections made during a less-intensive survey 25 years ago, suggest that 2 Bombus species are increasing in abundance, but that at least half of the Bombus species previously observed in this region have become rare or locally extinct.