Bee–plant interactions: Competition and phenology of flowers visited by bees

Abstract

We present results of the flowering phenology of most plant species visited by European and Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica and A. mellifera scutellata, respectively) in the Yucatán Peninsula. Colonies from both bee types visited the largest number of plant species at the end of the wet season (September and October) and the beginning of the dry season (November). A calendar is presented to indicate the community phenology of the floral resources of Apis mellifera. Comparisons were made in order to assess potential competition between both honey bee groups and between honey bees and native bees in relation to their food resources. Trees were also a constant pollen resource for Apis mellifera and Melipona beecheii, a native stingless bee. Solitary bees and M. beecheii bee seemed to change their floral resource use, both show ‘resource partitioning’ to avoid competition. For example, two important plant families, Anacardiaceae and Euphorbiaceae, were lost to competing honey bees, but compensated for by greater use of Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Sapotaceae among solitary bees. Invasive generalist pollinators may, however, cause specialized competitors to fail, especially in less biodiverse environments. Deforestation, hurricanes, and fires are three factors that affect the habitat and food resources for bee colonies. Within agricultural areas, having large areas of natural vegetation, corridors, or strips of vegetation between the crop fields is important to favor adequate diversity of natural pollinators for pollination of crop plants.