This study explored the flower visiting behaviors and pollination abilities of mason bees (Osmia excavata Alfken (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)), bumble bees (Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)), and Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) in apple orchards in early spring in Jinan (located in the central region of Shandong) and Yantai (located in the Peninsula of Shandong). We compared the pollen collection patterns, flower visiting behavior, flying speed, and effects on apple pollination of the 3 types of bees. The frequencies of flower visits were significantly higher for mason bees (12.89/min in Jinan and 10.63/min in Yantai) than bumble bees and Italian honey bees in the 2 regions. The single flower residence times were significantly higher for Italian honey bees (8.22 s in Jinan and 9.43 s in Yantai), but Italian honey bees were most affected by the climate. The 3 bees differed significantly in terms of the amount of apple pollen collected and their effects on the fruit setting rate in apples (mason bees > bumble bees > Italian honey bees). The results showed that the mason bee was the most suitable pollinating species for spring apple orchards; Bumble bees were more suitable as alternative pollinators during cloudy and low temperatures; Italian honey bees were able to take advantage of their large number of worker bees in sunny and warm weather. Compared to individual bee species, a combination of 2 or 3 species of bees might be more advantageous in dealing with complex and variable weather conditions.

中文翻译：

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梅森蜂、熊蜂和蜜蜂的访花行为和授粉能力的探索性比较

本研究探讨了梅森蜂（Osmia excavata Alfken（膜翅目：Megachilidae））、熊蜂（Bombus terrestris（Linnaeus，1758）（膜翅目：蜜蜂科））和意大利蜜蜂（Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola）的访花行为和授粉能力。 （膜翅目：蜜蜂科））早春在济南（位于山东中部地区）和烟台（位于山东半岛）的苹果园中。我们比较了 3 种蜜蜂的花粉采集模式、访花行为、飞行速度以及对苹果授粉的影响。在这两个地区，梅森蜂的访花频率（济南为 12.89 次/分钟，烟台为 10.63 次/分钟）显着高于熊蜂和意大利蜜蜂。意大利蜜蜂的单花停留时间明显较高（济南为8.22秒，烟台为9.43秒），但意大利蜜蜂受气候影响最大。3种蜜蜂在采集苹果花粉的量及其对苹果坐果率的影响方面存在显着差异（梅森蜂>大黄蜂>意大利蜜蜂）。结果表明，石工蜂是春季苹果园最适宜的授粉物种；在阴天和低温期间，大黄蜂更适合作为替代传粉者；意大利蜜蜂能够在阳光明媚、温暖的天气里充分利用其大量工蜂的优势。与单个蜂种相比，2 种或 3 种蜜蜂的组合可能更有利于应对复杂多变的天气条件。