Is non-host pollen suitable for generalist bumblebees?

Vanderplanck M; Decleves S; Roger N; Decroo C; Caulier G; Glauser G; Gerbaux P; Lognay G; Richel A; Escaravage N; Michez D

doi:10.1111/1744-7917.12410

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Journal article

Is non-host pollen suitable for generalist bumblebees?

Vanderplanck M Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
Decleves S Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
Roger N Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
Decroo C Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Center for Mass Spectrometry, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
Caulier G Research Institute for Biosciences, Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
Glauser G Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Gerbaux P Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Center for Mass Spectrometry, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.
Lognay G Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux.
Richel A Unit of Biological and Industrial Chemistry (CBI), University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, Belgium.
Escaravage N Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), CNRS, ENFA, UMR 5174, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
Michez D Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium.

2016-10-13

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Insect science. - 2018

English Current evidence suggests that pollen is both chemically and structurally protected. Despite increasing interest in studying bee-flower networks, the constraints for bee development related to pollen nutritional content, toxicity and digestibility as well as their role in the shaping of bee-flower interactions have been poorly studied. In this study we combined bioassays of the generalist bee Bombus terrestris on pollen of Cirsium, Trifolium, Salix, and Cistus genera with an assessment of nutritional content, toxicity, and digestibility of pollen. Microcolonies showed significant differences in their development, non-host pollen of Cirsium being the most unfavorable. This pollen was characterized by the presence of quite rare δ7-sterols and a low digestibility. Cirsium consumption seemed increase syrup collection, which is probably related to a detoxification mixing behavior. These results strongly suggest that pollen traits may act as drivers of plant selection by bees and partly explain why Asteraceae pollen is rare in bee generalist diet.

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