Bee community composition, but not diversity, is influenced by floret size in cultivated sunflowers

Nectar-related traits influence the number of bee visits to sunflowers, but effects floret size on diversity and composition communities are unknown. In 4 year × planting date combinations, bees were collected from sunflowers with small (< 7.5 mm), medium (7.5–9 or large (> 9 mm) florets, counts foraging used clarify responses plant traits. No effect was found, associations tongue length led differences in small, medium, florets. Though most wild preferred forage plants more nectar smaller florets (≈ easier access nectar), Bombus spp. showed an opposite response size, preferentially lines Changes Melissodes preference presence also suggest interactions between small- large-bodied may be important.