Early spring floral foraging resources for pollinators in wet heathlands in Belgium

In temperate regions, foraging resources for pollinating insects are particularly important in early spring, especially for social insects like bumblebees that are initiating colonies. Heathlands, protected open habitats under EU law, provide floral resources (pollen and nectar) for a range of pollinating insects. In early spring, in Belgian heathlands, only two floral resources are available: willows Salix spp. (Salicaceae) and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus (Ericaceae). Our objective was to assess whether these two plant species provide quantitative and qualitative resources during early sprin... Mehr ...