In the literature I found mainly lab testings. I am wondering if a study set-up in the field would be possible.
Hello,
you can look at the papers from the Chitka lab, expecialy from M. Lihoreau, they manage to do some research on bumblebees using artificial flowers in laboratory, but also in semi-field condition (under a big tent, using movie cameras) and in field condition (with a harmonic radar).
http://chittkalab.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/Pub.html
Best regards,
Juliette
Dear all,
I have some experience with training freely flying bees in outdoor settings: There were problem with Western honeybees. Bumblebees also accepted a sugar solution for few days, but when weather contitions were better they left the feeding place. Stingless bees, Melipona quadrifasciata and other species, accepted feeders quite well.
Klaus
Dear all, thank you for the answers. From what Klaus Lunau says, I guess a tunnel training will be the best solution for my purposes. I want to offer artificial food sources, so I guess in the field they would loose the interest quite fast.
Dear Klaus,
I mean to train the bumblebees under semi-field conditions, i.e. in a gauze tunnel. So they really have to feed on my artificial feeders and don't get distracted with more attractive, natural food. As you said that they get distracted from the feeding place with good weather, I think it's the better option.
Thanks again for this info,
Claudia
Dear Claudia,
this is a good option in which the bumblebees will be cooperative. Do you want to offer both sugar/honeywater and pollen or will you reward only with sugarwater. The bumblebees will respond to their needs in the nest.
Klaus
Dear Klaus, I wanted to reward only with sugar water. But in fact if I go into the tunnels I should offer pollen also... thank you for pointing this out!
Claudia
We use an old coffee mill to grind dry honeybee-collected pollen for feeding to the bumblebees.
Klaus
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