An improved method and apparatus for assessing bee foraging preferences

Bees are essential pollinators for many plant species, but multiple threats exist to both managed and wild bee populations. Since bee nutrition is critical for hive and colony health, their innate foraging behaviors and food preferences are the subject of extensive study. Multiple approaches have been developed to assess bee foraging behavior and associated preferences, but these approaches are often labor-intensive and provide data on a limited number of parameters. In this manuscript, we present an improved method to quantify bee foraging preferences, including the design, build, and implementation of an inexpensive and automated feeding apparatus capable of recording (1) environmental conditions, (2) species and behavior through photos and videos, (3) foraging activity, and (4) food consumption. The efficacy of this apparatus is demonstrated through preference tests with artificial nectars, while also acknowledging the limitations of this approach.