Colony initiation of bumble bee queens (B-terrestris) and colony development in captivity

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Gurel F., Efendi Y., Mutaf S.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES, cilt.23, sa.4, ss.379-384, 1999 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 23 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 1999
  • Dergi Adı: TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.379-384
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Bombus terrestris, colony foundation rate, colony development, number of worker, APIDAE, HYMENOPTERA, POLLINATION
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This experiment was conducted to determine breeding techniques, colony foundation rate, colony and worker development in the laboratory of field-collected Bombus terrestris queens. One hundred and sixty-seven naturally mated queens were captured from the Aegean region in autumn. The queens were individually in cages at 28-30 degrees C and 50-60 % R.H. in the dark. Every 2-3 days, sugar solution (50 %) and pollen paste were supplied and 4-5 young honeybees were added to the cages. When the first bumble bee workers emerged, the colony was transferred to a large ventilated box with two compartments. During the trial the nest foundation rate, measured by worker emergence, was found to be 50.3 % and the survival rate of queens 56.3 %. Queens started to oviposition 5.88+/-0.24 days after they were placed in the cages. Worker development time was found to be 26.425+/-0.384 days. After emergence of the first workers the average number of workers on day 7, 14, 20, 27, 34 and 40 were found to be 5.85+/-0.406. 7.95+/-0.394. 10.574+/-0.530, 15.689+/-0.575, 19.122+/-0.786, 27.33+/-1.12. respectively.

This experiment was conducted to determine breeding techniques, colony foundation rate, colony and worker development in the laboratory of field-collected Bombus terrestris queens. One hundred and sixty-seven naturally mated queens were captured from the Aegean region in autumn. The queens were individually in cages at 28-30 degrees C and 50-60 % R.H. in the dark. Every 2-3 days, sugar solution (50 %) and pollen paste were supplied and 4-5 young honeybees were added to the cages. When the first bumble bee workers emerged, the colony was transferred to a large ventilated box with two compartments. During the trial the nest foundation rate, measured by worker emergence, was found to be 50.3 % and the survival rate of queens 56.3 %. Queens started to oviposition 5.88+/-0.24 days after they were placed in the cages. Worker development time was found to be 26.425+/-0.384 days. After emergence of the first workers the average number of workers on day 7, 14, 20, 27, 34 and 40 were found to be 5.85+/-0.406. 7.95+/-0.394. 10.574+/-0.530, 15.689+/-0.575, 19.122+/-0.786, 27.33+/-1.12. respectively.