2012 Cilt 12 Sayı 2

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Observations on nectar availability and bee visitation at patches of yellow star-thistle and chasteberry on the northeast aegean Island of lesvos (Greece)
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2012) Barthell, John F.; Hranıtz, John M.; Redd, JeAnna R.; Clement, Meredith L.; Crocker, Katherine C.; Becker, Erica C.; Leavıtt, Kara D.; Mccall, Brant; Mıllsnovoa, Megan; Walker, Cassondra M.; Petanıdou, Theodora; Wells, Harrington
We examined numbers of honey bees (Apis) versus non-Apis bees at patches of yellow star-thistle, Centaurea solstitialis, and chasteberry, Vitex agnus-castus, on the Northeast Aegean Island of Lesvos in Greece. The resulting visitation patterns are associated with average nectar volumes measured from florets of each plant species. Honey bees visit V. agnus-castus more frequently when bees are sampled from adjoining floral displays of both species. In addition, the average size of bee pollinators (as measured by head capsule width) collected during this time was always larger from V. agnus-castus relative to C. solstitialis, and significantly so in the majority of cases. These patterns contrast with findings from previous studies in the western USA (California) where yellow star-thistle is not a native plant species but honey bees commonly visit it. Indeed, in North America, the abundant honey derived from yellow star-thistle is often considered a desirable product for marketing by beekeepers.