Study finds that bees need food up to a month earlier than provided by recommended pollinator plants

The study is the first time that research has quantified the decline in wild bee colony survival and queen production due to a shortage of early season food. The findings demonstrate that pollen and nectar availability during the early colony founding stage is a critical, and previously under-appreciated, factor in bee colony success. The common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum), one of the species investigated by the study, collecting pollen. The common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum), one of the species investigated by the study, collecting pollen. Very early spring flowers are likely to increase bee colony survival and queen production, contributing towards halting and reversing this decline.