Can colonies of native (sub sp.) Bumblebees Bombus terrestris audax be maintained and kept alongside our honeybees? Does anyone have experience of colony raising and are there any pitfalls to keeping the two bee species on the same sites? Obviously created habitats will naturally assist to draw in these other bees but I would like to do all I can to increase the populations.
The reason I’m enquiring is as a honeybee provider to farms for pollination, I also recognise the falling decline in our native bumblebee colonies and their role in more specific pollinations such as cucurbits and squash. All constructive advice and technical knowledge welcomed with open arms!!!
The reason I’m enquiring is as a honeybee provider to farms for pollination, I also recognise the falling decline in our native bumblebee colonies and their role in more specific pollinations such as cucurbits and squash. All constructive advice and technical knowledge welcomed with open arms!!!