Effects of different stimulation methods on colony initiation and development of Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) queens

Abstract

The effects of different stimulation methods on colony development of Bombus terrestris queens were examined to increase rearing efficiency and reduce production costs. A total of 350 hibernated queens obtained from a commercial company were used. Each queen was placed separately in the starting box and four starting methods were tested: only the queen (q), one queen stimulated with one B. terrestris worker (qtw), one honeybee worker (qhw), and one B. terrestris pupa (qtp). There were significant differences among the treatments in terms of egg laying, colony production and saleable production ratio, the colony initiation time, the time of the emergence of the first worker, the number of egg cells in the first brood. Starting methods had no significant effect on the other colony characteristics. The highest egg laying ratio, colony production ratio and saleable colony production ratio were found in the qtw group (82.8, 53.3, 39.0%) followed by qtp (72.8, 42.8, 28.5%), qhw (57.1, 28.6, 16.2%) and q (35.7, 17.1, 14.3%) groups, respectively. The queens with qtw treatment developed more egg cells (4.39Ϯ0.21) in the first brood and started egg laying (11.75Ϯ0.83 days) earlier than in the other treatments. The results showed that adding a B. terrestris worker is the best starting method for the mass rearing of B. terrestris. Qtp treatment was found to be the second most successful starting method.

Effects of CO2 Narcosis on the Onset of Oviposition and Colony Founding Success of Post Diapausing Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Queens

“…The queens and the colonies were fed with sugar syrup (approximately 1:1 water: sugar) and fresh pollen collected from honeybee colonies ad-libitum through the experimental period. Each queen was attended by two newly emerged honey bee workers to stimulate egg laying 10 . Honey bee workers were changed every week until the emergence of the first B. terrestris workers.…”

Male remating and its influences on queen colony foundation success in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris

“…To stimulate egg-laying, one callow B. terrestris worker was added to each queen. These callow workers were replaced by young individuals every week until the first Male remating in Bombus terrestris offspring emerged (Gurel and Gosterit 2008). When the colony reached about 10 workers, nests were transferred to larger boxes.…”

The Relationship of Weight and Ovarian Development in Bombus terrestris L. Workers under Different Social Conditions

“…These findings could reflect the behavioural hierarchy and dominance among the workers within groups. Previous research has shown that the addition of a single callow worker of B. terrestris (as in Ovarian development of B. terrestris Group 3 in the present study) represents the best ratio for egg-laying and colony production in mass rearing operations (Gurel & Gosterit, 2008). However, these helper workers start to lay eggs and males emerge in the first brood.…”

“…However, reproductive workers do not affect the gyne production (Lopez-Vaamonde et al, 2003). Placing a queen together with some callow workers is widely used to stimulate egg-laying (colony initiation) in the commercial rearing of B. terrestris (Gurel & Gosterit, 2008). These callow workers may start to lay eggs, and compete with the queen for the opportunity to lay eggs.…”