D3056: Bee visitation to three clover species (Trifolium spp.) and common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) at southern Rhode Island farms

Bumble bees are experiencing worldwide declines due to multiple factors including habitat loss, pesticide use, and pathogens. Comprehensive surveys of bumble bee abundance and diversity in several New England states have revealed similar declines (New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island). These surveys aim to establish baselines for bumble bee conservation programs; however, they often fail to investigate floral preferences, the probability of selecting a plant species regardless of species density, of the bees surveyed. Floral preferences are important to consider when designing conservation plans because they can differ amongst local populations. Therefore, conservation plans for declining bumble bee species can be strengthened by increasing strongly preferred floral resources by species of concern. We propose assessing bee abundance and diversity on flowers selected for their observed attractiveness to several bee species currently found in Rhode Island: white clover, red clover, (cultivars: ‘medium’ and ‘mammoth’), crimson clover, and common selfheal, by conductint quadrat samples on four established plots in southern Rhode Island. We also propose investigating the impact of drought conditions on clover nectar replenishment rates and how this might subsequently affect bee visitation. These efforts will help improve floral recommendations to better protect and preserve bumble bees in Rhode Island.