Effect of Different Diapause Conditions on Bombus terrestris Colony Characteristics
Effect of Different Diapause Conditions on Bombus terrestris Colony Characteristics
Muhammad Nasir1,*, Ata-ul-Mohsan2, Shafqat Saeed3, Munir Ahmad2, Muhammad Asif Aziz2 andMunir Ahmad4
ABSTRACT
Diapause is the very important stage in the artificial rearing of bumblebees that entails costs that become visible after diapause completion. In the present study different diapause temperature (-2-0 ºC), (1-3 ºC), (4-6 ºC) and duration (two and three months) showed the highest survival rate of the queens after diapause period of two months at 1-3 ºC. Highest colony initiation rate was observed at 1-3 ºC for three months duration. Early pre-oviposition period and early emergence of the first worker in a colony was also observed at three months diapause period at diapause temperature of 1-3 ºC. Larger colony size with the highest number of workers, males and progeny queens were also observed at 1-3 ºC for three months period which suggests the importance of diapause conditions on bumblebee colony characteristics.
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August 2019
Vol. 51, Iss. 4, Pages 1203-1598
