When it comes to sucking pollen from flowers , bumblebees are exquisite palate animals, true foodies who won’t settle for just any bite, according to new research led by Christina Grozinger, director of the Pennsylvania State University Pollination Research Center. . The study authors have found that these insects can detect the nutritional qualities of pollen , allowing them to choose what they eat among plant species to optimize their diet. The study carried out in the laboratory consisted of putting the bumblebees in cages in which there were no flowers. Instead, they offered the animals fresh pollen from different plants, and found that they favored those with the highest amounts of nutrients and a higher ratio of protein and lipids .
” Bumblebee populations are declining around the world, presumably due to a poor diet as one of the main factors. Our study can help identify plant species that are more efficient to provide them with a more nutritious diet by creating gardens and greenhouses. with pollen plants, “says Grozinger. Scientists had always believed that insects preferred flowering plants because they were attracted to their color, smell, morphology, or nectar concentration. However, this new research proves that they are inclined towards those with higher nutritional value. This is key, as pollen is the main source of protein and lipids for bumblebees and bees in general.
During the experiment, the researchers looked at the eating habits of the insects and plants they chose and then analyzed their concentrations of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids (fats) . The conclusion was that they favored those with the highest protein and fat content. Bumblebees normally obtain carbohydrates from nectar, and then have to feed on different species of pollen to obtain protein and lipids. The species that most often visited to forage were Senna hebecarpa , Tradescantia and Veronicastrum virginicum .
But how do they manage to recognize those whose pollen has more proteins and lipids? According to the study authors, worker bumblebees, in charge of extracting pollen, test the outer part of pollen, which contains a chemically complex substance that includes amino acids and fatty acids, with receptors that they have in their antennae and mouths. That allows them to choose the most nutritious snacks.
