The ability of bumblebees and honeybees to pollinate red clover.

Published online
15 Jan 1966
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2401480

Author(s)
Free, J. B.

Publication language
English

Abstract

Flower heads of 3 varieties of red clover were exposed to insect visits at various times from 2 to 7 days after the first flowers opened; each head was covered again immediately after being visited once by a bee. The percentage of florets visited which set seed decreased rapidly with the number of days they had been open. There was little or no difference between the pollinating efficiency of Apis mellifera, Bombus agrorum and B. hortorum.-R.B.

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