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Time and Age Specific Mating Success of Bumblebee (bombus Terrestris L.) Reared at Different Photoperiodic Regimes

M. R. AMIN
Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

V. J. KWON
Department of Agricultural Biology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In this study, mating success of bumblebee, Bombus terrestris was recorded by five age groups of queens viz. 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days old, and the males were two days older than each age group of queens. Newly emerged males and queens were collected from different colonies and they were reared under four photoperiods e.g., L0:D24, L8:D16, L16:D8, and L24:D0 for observing the mating activities. Three days old queens with 5 days old males showed the lowest mating success at all photoperiodic regimes. Most of the couples mated within first 15 minutes of pairing and mating success increased with increasing duration of mating exposure. At the L0:D24 and L8:D16 photoperiodic regimes 9 days old queens with 11 days old males had the highest mating success (65.4 ± 3.3 and 85.0 ± 2.3%, respectively) whereas at L16:D8 and L24:D0 photoperiodic conditions, the highest mating success occurred when 7 days old queens paired with 9 days old males (92.1 ± 1.7 and 76.3 ± 3.2%, respectively). These results indicate that rearing of bees at different light regimes, age of bees and duration of mating exposure had significant effect on mating success of B. terrestris.

Keywords: Age, Bombus terrestris, mating, photoperiod, time.

Location:

Start Date: 00-03-2004

End Date: 00-12-2006

Program Area: Pest Management

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

This study was designed in confined conditions with altering photoperiods e.g., L0:D24, L8:D16, L16:D8, and L24:D0 to quantify whether light regimes have any stimulating effect on the different ages of bees for their mating success within different time frame.

Methodology:

Artificially hibernated bumblebee queens were collected from the mass rearing system of the Department of Agricultural Biology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of this Department during March 2004 to December 2006. B. terrestris colonies were developed at 28°C and 60% RH providing ad. libitum pollen of Actinidia arguta (Plench) and sugar solutions (1.5:1, w/v) as a diet. After emergence of new sexuals, queens were reared in small transparent plastic boxes measuring 16 x x 7 cm. Ten queens were kept in each box and provided with fresh pollen in a small petridish and sugar solutions (1.5:1, w/v) in a perforated tube. Males were reared in flight cages (40 x 30 x 30 cm) which had illumination facility. Fifty males were put in each cage which was supplied with fresh pollen and sugar solutions (1.5:1, w/v). The boxes of queens and cages of males were held in four separate rooms maintained at 25°C, 50% RH and photoperiodic regimes of L0:D24, L8:D16, L16:D8, and L24:D0 conditions until mating time. Photoperiodic treatments were scheduled with fluorescent white (L36/18-860, 300 Hz, λ = 460 nm) light at an intensity of 700 lux on the floor of the male cages and queen boxes. The intensity of light was measured with a digital lux meter and the photophase was regulated with timer. The mating success results were observed in 40 x 40 x 60 cm plastic cages. Sugar solutions and fresh pollen were supplied inside the cages. Mating was recorded in a room maintained at 25°C and 50% RH. During mating, the cages were illuminated with 200W mercury bulbs (GGY200, 60 Hz, λ = 580 nm) which were set 0.5 m above the mating cages. The intensity of light on the floor of the mating cages was 2300 lux. In each photoperiodic regime, five different age groups of queens were observed, having 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days old. The males were 2 days older than the queens in their respective age groups. Twenty queens and 40 males were released in each replication. Each age group reared in the same photoperiodic regime was replicated 12 times. The occurrence of copulation was recorded at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after pairing. Percent mating data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) after arc-sine transformation. The mean values were then separated by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) and the standard errors (SE) have been shown on the figures. All the analyses were performed by SPSS Inc (PASW Statistics 17).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 36(1) : 13-20, March 2011 ISSN 0258-7122

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present results showed that mating status of B. terrestris was affected by the combined effect of photoperiodism, the age of bees and exposure time. Queens of 7 days old and 9 days old males reared at long day, and queens of 9 days old and 11 days old males reared at short day photoperiodic regimes reached the best receptivity for mating. All the age groups of bees reared at different photoperiodic regimes showed higher receptivity for mating within first 15 minutes of exposure and mating success slightly increased with increasing exposure time. So, the findings of this study will contribute information to the commercial breeders for effective rearing of bumblebees.

Knowledge Management: Journal