ABSTRACT White clover (Trifolium repens L.) seed crops require insects for pollination. Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 are normally placed within fields but other insects might also be contributing additional pollination. To understand their potential contribution, we evaluated abundances across fields during peak flower; measured loose body pollen on four bee and two fly species and compared the rate of movement between inflorescences and florets for A. mellifera and B. terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758). A. mellifera were the most abundant verified flower visitor, although B. terrestris and long-tongued Bombus species also visited fields. Other insects recorded included Lasioglossum bees and two hover fly species, but these were considered ineffective pollinators (either low abundances or carried few pollen grains). B. terrestris were considered a more efficient pollinator than A. mellifera moving faster between florets but were less effective due to low abundances. Many Bombus spp. will forage under weather conditions unfavourable to A. mellifera, therefore, providing complimentary pollination.

中文翻译：

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Bombus terrestris：在调查的白三叶草种子田中，比蜜蜂更有效但效率更低的传粉者

摘要白三叶草 (Trifolium repens L.) 种子作物需要昆虫进行授粉。Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 通常放置在田间，但其他昆虫也可能有助于额外授粉。为了了解它们的潜在贡献，我们评估了开花高峰期跨田的丰度；测量了四种蜜蜂和两种苍蝇的松散花粉，并比较了蜜蜂花和陆生蜂的花序和小花之间的运动速度（Linnaeus，1758 年）。A. mellifera 是最丰富的经过验证的花卉访客，尽管 B. terrestris 和长舌红蜂物种也访问过田野。其他记录的昆虫包括 Lasioglossum 蜜蜂和两种盘旋苍蝇，但它们被认为是无效的传粉媒介（要么丰度低，要么携带很少的花粉粒）。B. terrestris 被认为是比 A. mellifera 更有效的传粉媒介，在小花之间移动得更快，但由于丰度低而效率较低。许多 Bombus 属。将在不利于 A. mellifera 的天气条件下觅食，因此提供免费授粉。