Colony Initiation of Bumble Bee Queens (B. terrestris) and Colony Development In Captivity

Résumé fourni par la source

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°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.

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