Responses in honeybee and bumblebee activity to changes in weather conditions

Abstract

Insect pollination, and in particular pollination by bees, is a highly valued ecosystem service that ensures plant reproduction and the production of high-quality crops. Bee activity is known to be influenced by the weather, and as the global climate continues to change, the flying frequency and foraging behaviour of bees may also change. To maximise the benefits of pollination in a changing world, we must first understand how current weather conditions influence the activity of different bee species. This is of particular interest in a country such as Ireland where inclement weather conditions are nominally sub-optimal for foraging. We observed honeybee (Apis mellifera) and buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) activity across a variety of weather conditions at seven apple orchards to determine how four weather variables (temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind) influenced the flight activity of each species. Each orchard contained three honeybee and three bumblebee colonies, and so we were able to observe a colony of each species concurrently in the same weather conditions. Overall, honeybees were more sensitive to changes in weather than bumblebees and could be more predisposed to future changes in within-day weather conditions. Our results indicate bumblebees could compensate for low honeybee activity in inclement conditions, which supports the theory that pollinator diversity provides resilience. This may be particularly important in management of pollinators in crops that flower in the spring when weather is more variable, and to allow varied responses to global climate change.

Nectar Production and Three Main Sugars in Nectar of Salvia pratensis and Salvia glutinosa in Correlation with Abiotic Factors

“…Our results show that Salvia species have the highest nectar production at warmer temperatures and earlier in the day, which can be connected with the coevolution of plants (our research object-Salvia) and bees. On the other hand, bees do not like higher humidity [53], although our research showed that the nectar quantity also increased at higher air and soil humidity. The nectar concentration can also affect pollinator visits.…”

“…Bees need nectar to provide energy for foraging [51]. Honey bees, as the main Salvia pollinators, are most active in warmer conditions and at lower humidity [52,53]. They are also more active earlier in the day and less so in the evening [52].…”

Decline in Honeybees and Its Consequences for Beekeepers and Crop Pollination in Western Nepal

“…The declining honey yields reported by beekeepers in our study region therefore indicate a reduction in floral resource availability or a reduced ability to freely forage and collect these resources, for example due to unfavorable weather conditions. Weather conditions are a key factor influencing the foraging activity of both managed honeybees and wild bees [35,36] and this may be particularly relevant in our study region where weather patterns have changed dramatically as reported by beekeepers and confirmed by empirical data [37,38]. In particular, beekeepers report that heavier and more erratic rainfall events-often coinciding with important stages of the colony life cycle-are impacting the ability of bees to forage and accumulate honey reserves.…”

“…But it is not implemented through all sector even by ourselves. 00: 35 Naomi: Is there production increase or decrease in recent year? 00:45:07…”

Decline of honeybees and its consequences for beekeepers and crop pollination in western Nepal

“…The declining honey yields reported by beekeepers in our study region therefore indicate a reduction in floral resource availability or a reduced ability to freely forage and collect these resources, for example due to unfavourable weather conditions. Weather conditions are a key factor influencing the foraging activity of both managed honeybees and wild bees (Karbassioon et al, 2023;Clarke & Robert, 2018) and this may be particularly relevant in our study region where weather patterns have changed dramatically, as reported by beekeepers and confirmed by empirical data (Shrestha et al, 2019;Sabin et al, 2020). In particular, beekeepers report that heavier and more erratic rainfall events -often coinciding with important stages of the colony life cycle -are impacting the ability of bees to forage and accumulate honey reserves.…”