Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Zeitschrift fuer angewandte Entomologie
Volume
81
Publisher
Verlag Paul Parey
Publication Date
1-1-1976
First Page
14
Last Page
20
Abstract
Foraging rates of honeybees have been found to be definitely influenced by several environmental factors. The impact of air temperature proved to be the most important of the weather conditions. Rising temperature significantly increases the speed of flower visits and simultaneously decreases the number of flowers visited per inflorescence. Sky covered has slight reserved effect whilst light wind (below 4.5m per sec) and flight distance within 600 metres do not affect the foraging rates of honeybees on red clover inflorescences. Strong wind decreases the speed of flower visits or prevents it. It is concluded that increasing length of corolla tube and decreasing amount and/or availability of nectar affect adversely the flower visiting speed. The type of behaviour is also important, since pure pollen gatherers are much more rapid flower visitors than the remaining behavioural classes whose foraging rates are closely similar to each other at the same locality. The details suggest that the foraging rates of honeybees are governed by a host of factors none of which seem to be highly superior to the others. For this reason, the foraging rates of honey-bees are always affected by a complex system of factors individual components of which can partly interfere with or support each other, however, certain factors tend to have geographical tendencies.
Recommended Citation
Benedek, Paul, "Effect of Enviornmental Factors on the Foraging Rates of Honeybees in Red Clover Fields" (1976). Ba. Paper 310.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ba/310