Abstract: 【Aim】 Apis mellifera ligustica and Bombus terrestris are the two most widely used bee species for pollination on sweet cherry (Prunus avium) in the greenhouse. These two species have significant differences in their biological traits and foraging behavior. This study aims to observe the differences in foraging behaviors and pollination effects between the two bee species on P. avium in the greenhouse, so as to contribute to better utilization of these bee species for P. avium pollination in the greenhouse. 【Methods】 In February 2023, at Shuanghe Orchard in Shunyi District, Beijing, the foraging behaviors of A. mellifera ligustica and B. terrestris were monitored during the initial and peak flowering periods of P. avium, on both sunny and cloudy days. The pollination effects of the two bee species on P. avium in the greenhouse were evaluated. Simultaneously, the dynamic changes in temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity in the greenhouse environment were monitored, and the relationships between foraging frequencies (frequencies of leaving nest and returning nest with pollen) and environmental factors were analyzed. 【Results】The frequencies of leaving nest and returning nest with pollen of A. mellifera ligustica and B. terrestris were positively correlated with the temperature on both sunny and cloudy days, while their frequencies of leaving nest and returning nest with pollen showed significantly negative correlations with the relative humidity only on cloudy days. The foraging behavior of A. mellifera ligustica was more susceptible to light intensity as compared to that of B. terrestris, and the frequencies of leaving nest and returning nest with pollen of A. mellifera ligustica showed significant correlations with the light intensity on both sunny and cloudy days, while the frequencies of leaving nest and returning nest with pollen of B. terrestris showed significantly positive correlations with light intensity only on cloudy days. The foraging peaks for A. mellifera ligustica and B. terrestris were from 11:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 15:00, respectively, on sunny days, and from 14:00 to 15:00 and 15:00 to 16:00, respectively, on cloudy days. The frequencies of leaving nest and returning nest with pollen of A. mellifera ligustica and B. terrestris during the peak flowering period of P. avium were both higher than those during the initial flowering period of P. avium. Compared to A. mellifera ligustica, B. terrestris visited more flowers per minute and spent less time on a single flower during the whole day. There were no significant differences in fruit-setting rate, individual fruit weight, fruit growth rate, and fruit shape index of P. avium after pollination between the two species. 【Conclusion】 Both A. mellifera ligustica and B. terrestris can serve as efficient pollinators for P. vaium in the greenhouse, and the appropriate bee species can be selected based on the weather conditions during the pollination period, or the greenhouse environment can be adjusted to achieve the optimal pollination effect.

Key words: Apis mellifera ligustica, Bombus terrestris, foraging behavior, pollination, Prunus avium