Orientation and drifting of two bumble bee (Bombus impatiens and B.occidentalis) species were studied in greenhouses. Preliminary observations suggested that bumble bees used to pollinate tomatoes will drift from their original hive into a foreign hive, and remain in the adopted hive. Such drifting is known for honey bees but has not been extensively documented between bumble bee colonies. We first examined the extent of bumble bee drifting within commercial greenhouse environments. Bees were colour-marked and their eventual location mapped as they remained in their home colonies or drifted between hives. In a separate experiment, we tested whether patterns placed at the hive entrance to provide orientation cues would reduce drifting. These studies provide important information to growers that can improve pollination effectiveness and reduce costs.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Apidae Bombus occidentalis (bumble bee)
Species 2: Hymenoptera Apidae Bombus impatiens (bumble bee)
Keywords: orientation cues, homing ability
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA