Historical Development of Bee Foraging Patterns in Central New York State

markedly in the past few centuries. The impetus for this change came largely from human activities, notably from introductions of foreign species and modifications of the regional flora. Several bee species, most notably the honey bee (Apis mellifera), were introduced into this region (Crane 1975; Linsley 1958). Honey bees can powerfully influence the foraging patterns of native bees (Pearson 1933; Eickwort and Ginsberg 1980). Replacement of forests over large areas by cities and farms (Ferguson and Mayer 1970; Vaughan 1929) and numerous introductions of alien plant species (Wiegand and Eames 1925) have resulted in major changes in northeastern plant communities. How broad were these changes and how have they influenced the foraging ecology of northeastern bees? What was this area like before the European settlers arrived? The answers to these questions are vital to an understanding ofcontemporary bee foraging patterns and of community level interactions between flowers and their pollinators. The purpose of this paper is to describe some general trends in the foraging patterns of Apoidea in central New York State, and to interpret them in terms of the historical development of the flora and bee fauna of the region.