Thug life: bramble (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) is a valuable foraging resource for honeybees and diverse flower‐visiting insects

Abstract

1. Bramble (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) is a common summer-flowering plant native to the United Kingdom. Multiple complementary approaches were used to evaluate its ecological value to the honeybee (Apis mellifera), bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and other flower-visiting insects in Sussex, England. 2. Regional surveys of insect groups at seven sites across 2 years showed that foraging activity on bramble was dominated by honeybees (60.2%; n = 28 surveys) and bumblebees (17.4%), compared to non-Apis/Bombus bees (2.8%), hoverflies (Syrphidae, 7.9%), non-syrphid flies (0.6%), butterflies (6.4%), wasps (0.4%) and beetles (4.4%). Foraging insect community structure was highly similar spatially, but varied significantly between survey months (June and July). 3. In detailed local surveys at one rural and one urban location, there was a diverse range of insect taxa foraging on the bramble flowers, including species of conservation concern (Bombus humilis, Coenonympha pamphilus and Limenitis camilla). 4. Pollen trapping at 12 honeybee hives in four locations showed that an average of 31% of pollen pellets collected by honeybees from late May to early August were bramble, with a peak of 66-86% per location. 5. Bramble was present in 54 out of 60 200 × 200 m randomly selected grid squares surveyed over a large area across Sussex. Plants were recorded in multiple habitat types in both urban and rural areas. 6. Bramble is sometimes considered an undesirable plant or a "thug" that outcompetes other wild flowers; however, these findings confirm that it is highly valuable for flower-visiting insects. Wherever conflicts of interest and management strategies allow, bramble should be maintained and promoted for wildlife and insect conservation.

Forest understorey plant responses to long‐term experimental warming, light and nitrogen addition

“…Rubus fruticosus was not only more abundant, but also taller and carried more fruits. It is often considered a weedy species, but it is also a valuable foraging resource for several insects (Wignall et al, 2020). It typically outcompetes other plant understorey species after thinning (Decocq et al, 2004), demonstrating a flexible strategy to respond rapidly to beneficial environmental conditions.…”

Structure of Anther Epidermis and Endothecium, Production of Pollen, and Content of Selected Nutrients in Pollen Grains from Six Rubus idaeus L. Cultivars

“…It is a valuable nutritional source for pollinators. Although raspberry is a self-pollinating plant, crosspollination has a clearly beneficial effect [106][107][108]. The appropriate selection of compatible pollinators is highly important in mono-varietal cultivation of this species under cover, as it ensures a larger fruit size (by approximately 30%) and an increased number of seeds in the fruit and, consequently, increased yields [109][110][111].…”

Slow development of woodland vegetation and bird communities during 33 years of passive rewilding in open farmland

“…that dominated 13 ha of Noddle Hill have a sequential flowering season spanning four months of the year [ 59 , 60 ]. This pollen and nectar resource is heavily utilised by wild pollinators and domestic honeybees Apis mellifera [ 61 , 62 ], and so shrubland habitats could support important pollination services in the local landscape.…”