Why are Bumble Bees better pollinators?
In comparison with other pollinating insects like honeybees, bumble bees are very effective pollinators. They are first of all fast workers (for instance, they visit twice as many flowers per minute as honeybees), and because of their size, they can carry relatively heavy loads, which enables them to make long foraging trips. Also due to their relatively large size they often achieve better contact with stamens and pistils than smaller insects. Furthermore, bumble bees make relatively few demands on the circumstances under which they work. They feel more at ease in greenhouses/tunnels than honeybees for instance, particularly where restricted areas are concerned. Bumble bees are still active at relatively low temperatures (around 10°C) and low light intensity levels. Even strong wind and drizzle will not keep them from doing their job. One important advantage of bumble bees over honey bees is the absence of a communication system. Honeybees inform each other by means of the so-called b
