Preliminary observations on foraging activities of Bombus dahlbomii and Bombus terrestris (hym: Apidae) on native and non-native vegetation in Chile

The present paper provides preliminary information about some foraging activities of B. Dahlbomii, a native apid, and the introduced B. terrestris, in areas of Central-South and Central Chile. The field work was centered in looking at variables like: frequency of insect visits per plant; stigma contact; pollen collection; nectar gathering; and, time of floral visitation. Analysis of the data attempts to provide a better understanding of bumblebees behavior when foraging on native and non-native flowering plants and interaction with other insects, especially bees, in wild conditions.