Honeybees struggle to gather nectar in August, direct measurements reveal
Letting late-summer weeds grow could help honeybees when they find it most challenging to gather nectar, according to new research published in the journal, Functional Ecology.
New research published in Functional Ecology reveals that honeybees struggle to gather nectar in late summer, particularly in August. Scientists from the University of Sussex found that honeybees experience the most significant energy challenges when foraging for nectar during these months, as opposed to spring when their foraging efficiency peaks.
Conducted in green spaces in Brighton and Edinburgh, the study is the first to directly measure seasonal changes in the energy expended and gained by honeybees while foraging. The researchers discovered that food shortages were most acute in late July and August, likely due to fewer flowers blooming and increased competition from other pollinators.
Dr. Nicholas Balfour, a co-author of the study, emphasized that late summer is when most pollinator species are active and require nectar to feed their offspring. To support honeybees during this challenging period, the researchers suggest encouraging flowers that bloom in late summer, adjusting lawn mowing schedules, or allowing late-summer-blooming weeds like thistle, ragwort, and knapweed to grow.
The findings have implications for other pollinators as well, as honeybees are a good indicator of overall nectar availability in the landscape.
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