Attractiveness of different alfalfa flower colours for bumble bees
2000
Hiiemets, R. (University of Tartu, Tartu (Estonia). Inst. of Zoology and Hydrobiology) | Maend, M. (Estonian Agricultural Univ., Tartu (Estonia). Inst. of Plant Protection) | Bender, A. | Tamm, S. (Jogeva Plant Breeding Institute, Jogeva (Estonia))
The aim of this study is to determine whether bumble bees can discriminate between different flower colours. Flowers of alfalfa Medicago x varia Martyn can be found in three main colour morphs: yellow, blue and purple. We counted the number of alfalfa inflorescences of different colours and the frequency of bumble bee visits to those inflorescences. The results of the study show that bumble bees prefer blue inflorescences to yellow and purple ones. This selective foraging behaviour can be accounted for by the pollen quality and protein content depending on the colour of the flowers
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