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ANNUAL OF SOFIA UNIVERSITY "ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI”
FACULTY OF BIOLOGY
BOOK 2 -BOTANY
Volume 98, 2006
ANNUAIRE DEI/UNIVERSITE DE SOFIA "ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKP
FACULTY OF BIOLOGY
LTVRE 2 - BOTANIQUE
Tome 98, 2006
ON THE FLOWER CHOICE AND CONSTANCY OF BUMBLEBEES
FORAGING IN THE FLOWERS OF THE GENTIANS
Ekaterina K. K ozuharova
Faculty ofPharmacy, Medical University Sofia, Department o fPharmacognosy and Botany,
2 Dunav Sir. Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
e-mail:
Abstract. This study is a comparative analysis o f the flower choice and constancy based on the
corbicular pollen of bumblebees collected in bell shaped flowers of some Gentiana species to which they are
morphologically adapted. There is not obvious pattern of correlation between the caste and the flower
constancy. Theflower constancy van’ between the individuals of a certain bumblebee species - some workers
and queens do not visit other plants. Others have pollen from several (up to 9) plant species. We do not find
correlation between the flower constancy to Gentiana flowers and the attractant nectar, pollen or both.
Dominate pollen of Gentiana. In most of the pollen loads second dominant pollen belongs to dish-bowl blossom
class in which the bumblebeesforage together with (he mainfood source - the gentian. Next dominating pollen
is from bell shaped flowers. ‘’Minors" were often but not necessarily the abandoned in the area flowering
plants.
Key words: Gentiana, Bombus, corbicular pollen, pollen analysis, flower constancy
Bumblebees are polvlectic - they are generalists not specialised to a particular
plant species (Hobbs, 1962 a, 1962 b\ Free, 1970 a, 1970 b\ M acior, 1974; Bauer.
1983; H ein rich , 1976 a, 1976 b: H ein rich et al., 1977). Their flower choice is
dependant on пишу factors. Important may be the abundance of the plant species
reflecting the food resources (M osqu in , 1971). In any one area with a variety of
concurrently blooming plants bumblebees have apparent species preferences.
Superimposed on these species preferences individuals have primary foraging specialities
{majors) and secondary specialities (minors) and this allows the bees to keep track of
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