Preferred nesting sites of bumblebee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in agroecosystems in the UK

Kells, Andrea R; Goulson, Dave

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(02)00131-3

Cited by 165 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Undisturbed areas such as forests and forest edges can be suitable nesting habitat for bumblebees (Kells and Goulson 2003;Osborne et al 2008). These areas might be a source of continuous pollen and nectar resources throughout the foraging stage of bumblebees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape effects on wild Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens visiting highbush blueberry fields in south-central Chile

et al. 2016

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-In this study pollinators visiting highbush blueberry fields set in landscapes with differing land use pattern in south-central Chile were investigated. Effects of spatial buffers from 0.5 to 8 km around each blueberry field on the abundance of the main wild pollinator, Bombus terrestris queens, were tested. Wild B. terrestris abundances were positively affected by natural forest area and negatively affected by high-food resource area, and these effects were strongest at a buffer radius of 1 and 3.5 km, respectively. Possibly, continuous food resources provided by natural forest areas favor colony establishment and growth, and/or increase overwintering survival of bumblebee queens. Also, pollinator dependent crop area can generate a Btransient dilution effect^by decreasing the density of bumblebees in simultaneously flowering crops. Management strategies might increase crop pollination services by considering the importance of nesting and overwintering habitat quality/amount and area of simultaneously flowering crops requiring insect pollination.Vaccinium corymbosum / pollinators / bumblebee / natural forest areas / flowering crops

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape effects on wild Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens visiting highbush blueberry fields in south-central Chile

et al. 2016

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“…The availability of suitable nest sites and the distribution of bumblebee colonies is far less easy to assess than forage availability and worker activity, so there are correspondingly fewer data (Skovgaard, 1936;Richards, 1978;Harder, 1986;Fussell and Corbet, 1992;Osborne et al, 2008a). Intensive management of crops and grassland (ploughing and cutting) has led to bumblebee nests being concentrated in the less disturbed edge features around fields, such as hedgerows, fence-lines and unmanaged strips of vegetation (Fussell and Corbet, 1992;Svensson et al, 2000;Kells and Goulson, 2003;Osborne et al, 2008a). Keeping grass cut short severely affects the survival of surface nests (Fussell and Corbet, 1992).…”

Section: Threatening Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bumblebee vulnerability and conservation world-wide

2009

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-We review evidence from around the world for bumblebee declines and review management to mitigate threats. We find that there is evidence that some bumblebee species are declining in Europe, North America, and Asia. People believe that land-use changes may be having a negative effect through reductions in food plants in many parts of the world, but that other factors such as pathogens may be having a stronger effect for a few species in some regions (especially for Bombus s. str. in North America). Evidence so far is that greater susceptibility to land-use change is associated world-wide with small climatic ranges, range edges, and late-starting colony-development cycles. More evidence is needed on the roles of pollen specialization, nest sites, hibernation sites, and pesticides. It is still too early to assess the success of schemes aimed at improving forage in agricultural and conservation areas. However, schemes aimed at raising public awareness have been very successful. Until proven safe, we recommend that live bumblebees should not be moved across continents or oceans for commercial pollination.bumblebee / Bombus / threat / vulnerability / decline / conservation

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“…In the wider countryside, such features are typically undisturbed or uncultivated ground, banks, hedges, and rough grass (Free and Butler 1959), although Prŷs-Jones and Corbet (1991) report a wide variety of human-made sites. Preferences of queens searching for nest sites appears to be a good guide to the locations of the nests themselves (Kells and Goulson 2003); it is therefore possible that queens would not even search in gardens lacking certain key features. For subterranean-nesting species, banks are the most important search cue (Kells and Goulson 2003).…”

Section: Bumblebee Nest Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preferences of queens searching for nest sites appears to be a good guide to the locations of the nests themselves (Kells and Goulson 2003); it is therefore possible that queens would not even search in gardens lacking certain key features. For subterranean-nesting species, banks are the most important search cue (Kells and Goulson 2003). Recent experience with a small number of boxes shows that bumblebees will colonise wooden nest boxes in gardens if they are located on banks where queens commonly search for nest sites (unpublished data).…”

Section: Bumblebee Nest Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban domestic gardens (II): experimental tests of methods for increasing biodiversity

et al. 2005

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Abstract. The extent and continued expansion of urbanisation has focused attention on the significance for native biodiversity of those green spaces remaining within such areas and the most appropriate methods of managing them. In the UK, a high proportion of urban space is comprised of the private or domestic gardens associated with residential dwellings, and many recommendations have been made for simple changes to improve their value for biodiversity

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Preferred nesting sites of bumblebee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in agroecosystems in the UK

Cited by 165 publications

References 33 publications

Landscape effects on wild Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens visiting highbush blueberry fields in south-central Chile

Landscape effects on wild Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens visiting highbush blueberry fields in south-central Chile

Bumblebee vulnerability and conservation world-wide

Urban domestic gardens (II): experimental tests of methods for increasing biodiversity

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