Honey bees exhibit greater patch fidelity than bumble bees when foraging in a common environment

Animals commonly exhibit a tendency to return previously visited locations. Such is manifested at different scales, for example, fidelity site or specific patch within site. Although has important implications the pollinators and plants they visit, our understanding of fidelity, extent which it varies among bee species, remains limited. Here, we used mark–reobservation approach compare size preference between one bumble honey species foraging on patches Medicago sativa L. Honey bees exhibited greater (76%) than (47%); were more likely where marked. Patch affected level but not bees. Bumble larger rather smaller patches. In addition detected Bees often These results add already known repertoire differences in strategies species. It also indicates how simultaneous study distinct similar environment can reveal undetected information about their behavioral ecology. Observed preferences may have crop pollination conservation habitat design.