Publication Date
5-15-2025
The global increase in the number of managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) has raised concerns about their impact on native pollinator species, including bumble bees (Bombus spp.). This study examines the extent of floral resource overlap between honey bees and bumble bees in urban areas within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario, Canada, to better understand how competition for floral resources may influence bumble bee foraging behavior and niche partitioning. Pollen samples were collected from 541 bees, representing seven Bombus species and honey bees, across ten urban sites with high vs low honey bee abundance. We analyzed the floral use of bumble bees at sites with high and low honey bee abundance to assess the potential impact of competition. Our results show significant overlap in the floral resources used by honey bees and bumble bees, with bumble bees interacting with a slightly broader range of floral genera. Despite this high overlap, no significant difference was found in the overall floral genera visitation of bumble bees between sites with different honey bee abundances. However, some floral genera were more frequently visited by bumble bees at sites with lower honey bee abundance, indicating possible niche partitioning in response to competition. The findings highlight the potential for competition between honey bees and bumble bees to influence floral resource use, with possible implications for bumble bee health and conservation. This study underscores the need for pollinator conservation strategies that minimize negative impacts on wild bee populations, such as urban rewilding initiatives that increase native floral diversity such as the creation of meadows. By providing insights into the dynamics of pollinator interactions, this research contributes to our understanding of the ecological balance between managed and wild pollinators in urban environments.
Recommended Citation
Kerekes, Taylor; MacKell, Sarah; Elsayed, Hadil; and Colla, Sheila
(2025)
"Floral Use Competition Between Honey Bees and Bumble Bees Within an Urban Community,"
Cities and the Environment (CATE):
Vol. 18:
Iss.
1, Article 6.
DOI: 10.15365/cate.2025.180106
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol18/iss1/6
DOI
10.15365/cate.2025.180106
