Data from: Ants and ant scent reduce bumblebee pollination of artificial flowers

Ants on flowers can disrupt pollination by consuming rewards or harassing
pollinators, but it is difficult to disentangle the effects of these
exploitative and interference forms of competition on pollinator behavior.
Using highly rewarding and quickly replenishing artificial flowers that
simulate male or female function, we allowed bumblebees (Bombus impatiens)
to forage (1) on flowers with or without ants (Myrmica rubra) and (2) on
flowers with or without ant scent cues. Bumblebees transferred
significantly more pollen analogue both to and from ant-free flowers,
demonstrating that interference competition with ants is sufficient to
modify pollinator foraging behavior. Bees also removed significantly less
pollen analogue from ant-scented flowers than from controls, making this
the first study to show that bees can use ant scent to avoid harassment at
flowers. Ant effects on pollinator behavior, possibly in addition to their
effects on pollen viability, may contribute to the evolution of floral
traits minimizing ant visitation.