UK: Bees need food up to a month earlier than provided by recommended pollinator plants, study reveals

Honey

United Kingdom

Innovation & Technology

Published Mar 23, 2024

Tridge summary

A study by the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has found that plant species, recommended as 'pollinator-friendly' in Europe, bloom up to a month too late in spring to effectively support bee conservation. This 'hungry gap' results in low bee colony survival and reduced queen production for the following year. The research suggests that enhancing hedgerows with early blooming species like ground ivy, red dead-nettle, maple, cherry, hawthorn, and willow could improve colony success. The study also highlighted that bumblebee food demand peaks from March to June, and a lack of food during this period can severely impact colony survival and queen production.

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Original content

New research from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has revealed that plant species recommended as 'pollinator-friendly' in Europe begin flowering up to a month too late in the spring to effectively contribute to bee conservation. This 'hungry gap' results in low colony survival and low production of queens for the following year.The results showed that pollen and nectar availability during the early colony founding stage is a critical, and previously under-appreciated, factor in bee colony success. The study has been published in the journal Insect Conservation and Diversity.Senior author Dr. Tonya Lander (Department of Biology, University of Oxford) said, "The results give us a simple and practical recommendation to help bees: to enhance hedgerows with early blooming species, especially ground ivy, red dead-nettle, maple, cherry, hawthorn, and willow, which improved colony success rate from 35% to 100%. This approach focuses on existing hedgerows in agricultural land and ...

Source: Phys