Dawn to dusk division of Monarda fistulosa foraging time by bumble bee species (Bombus spp.) and likelihood to return the next day

Authors

Elise Bernstein, University of Minnesota, Twin CitiesFollow
Clara Costello, University of Minnesota, Twin CitiesFollow
Mary Yang, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation BoardFollow
Rosa Weinand, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Noah Sullivan, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Maya Cintorino, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Charlie Vang, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Miller Johnson, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Ahmed Hussein, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Gaochong Vang, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Rashad Bowen, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Kristen Gresl, Mississippi River Green Team, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Elaine Evans, University of Minnesota, Twin CitiesFollow

Document Type

Scientific Note

Abstract

There is a growing public interest in increasing pollinator habitat in urban areas. Monarda fistulosa is a commonly planted perennial species chosen for pollinator habitats of various sizes, from residential gardens to large-scale prairie restoration projects. Previous research has confirmed a preference for M. fistulosa among various bee species. We monitored and marked bumble bees visiting M. fistulosa over a 14-hour period, seeking to understand the daily pattern of bee visitation. We also observed bumble bees on the following day to determine the probability of marked individual bumble bees continuing to forage on M. fistulosa or to switch to a different flower the next day. We found that while visitation to M. fistulosa throughout the day remained consistent, larger, long-tongued species (Bombus auricomus) were more likely to visit through the afternoon than smaller, medium-tongued species (Bombus impatiens, Bombus bimaculatus). Long-tongued bumble bees were more likely to return to M. fistulosa on our second study day. This suggests that while M. fistulosa can support a wide range of bee species, a variety of native plant species, including flowers with short corollas, will best support bee diversity within an urban pollinator garden.

Recommended Citation

Bernstein, Elise; Costello, Clara; Yang, Mary; Weinand, Rosa; Sullivan, Noah; Cintorino, Maya; Vang, Charlie; Johnson, Miller; Hussein, Ahmed; Vang, Gaochong; Bowen, Rashad; Gresl, Kristen; and Evans, Elaine 2025. "Dawn to dusk division of Monarda fistulosa foraging time by bumble bee species (Bombus spp.) and likelihood to return the next day," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 58 (2)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.2508
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol58/iss2/9