Pollen Source Richness May Be a Poor Predictor of Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Colony Growth

Agricultural intensification has drastically altered foraging landscapes for bees, with large-scale crop monocultures associated floral diversity loss. Research on bumblebees and honeybees shown individuals feeding pollen from a low richness of sources can experience negative impacts health longevity relative to higher source similar protein concentrations. Florally rich are thus generally assumed better support social bees. Yet, little is known about whether the effects reduced be mitigated by crude concentration, importantly how variation in diet affects whole colony growth, rearing decisions sexual production. Studying queen-right bumblebee ( Bombus terrestris ) colonies, we monitored development under polyfloral or monofloral 1.5–1.8 times concentration. Over 6 weeks, found colonies performed all measures, no apparent long-term mass worker production, number pupae at end experiment. Unexpectedly, showed mortality, evidence any strategy counteract protein; fewer lower workers being reared, males showing trend. Our findings (i) provide well-needed daily growth dynamics queenright varied diets, (ii) view that content landscape rather than species per se likely key driver success.