Connecticut nursery pollen metabarcoding

Here, we report a study of honey bee foraging at three sites within large ornamental plant nurseries. Using DNA metabarcoding cross-validated with microscopy, we identify the floral sources of pollen samples collected throughout the foraging season, determining both taxonomic and seasonal patterns of honey bee foraging preference. Our results reveal that an attractive minority of ornamental varieties can account for a substantial portion of honey bee foraging, complemented by a wider selection of wild plants.