Investigation of Correlation of Syrup Sugar Content with Colony Traits and Syrup Consumption in Bumblebee

Abstract

This study was carried out to research the effects of feeding with syrup containing different amount of sugar on egg laying and colony foundation success and other colony development traits in bumblebees. For this purpose, 80 Bombus terrestris queens, which hibernated and were got ready to egg laying were used. Queens were randomly divided into four groups that each of them containing 20 queens. Four syrup containing different amount of sugar (35, 45, 55 and 65 brix degree) were tested in each group. Queens and colonies in all groups were also fed ad-libitum with the same fresh thawed pollen. According to results, syrup sugar content affected the colony foundation performance of queens in B. terrestris. However, syrup sugar content had no significant effect on the number of individuals produced and other colony development characteristics. In addition, the increase of sugar content of syrup reduced the amount of syrup consumption.

Keywords

• Bumblebee
• Bombus terrestris
• Colony development
• Feeding
• Sugar syrup

Bombus Arılarında Şurup Şeker İçeriği ile Koloni Özellikleri ve Şurup Tüketimi Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma bombus arılarının kitlesel üretiminde farklı şeker içeriğine sahip şuruplar ile beslemenin ana arıların yumurtlama ve koloni oluşturma başarısı ve yetiştirilen kolonilerin gelişim özellikleri arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmak amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu amaçla diyapoz dönemini tamamlamış ve yumurtlamaya hazır 80 adet Bombus terrestris ana arısı her grupta 20 adet olacak şekilde rastgele 4 gruba ayrılmıştır. Her bir grupta sırasıyla 35, 45, 55 ve 65 briks derecesi olmak üzere 4 farklı şeker içeriğine sahip şurup denenmiştir. Bütün gruplarda ana arılar ve koloniler şeker şurubu ile birlikte taze dondurulmuş polen ile ad-libitum olarak beslenmişlerdir. Sonuçlara göre B. terrestris arısında şurup şeker içeriğinin ana arının koloni oluşturma oranını etkilemektedir. Ancak şeker şurubu konsantrasyonunun üretilen birey sayıları ve diğer koloni gelişim özellikleri üzerine önemli bir etkisinin olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca şurup şeker içeriğinin artması şurup tüketimini azaltmıştır.

Keywords

• Bombus arısı
• Bombus terrestris
• Besleme
• Şeker şurubu
• Koloni gelişimi

References

1. Abou-Shaara, H. F. (2017). Effects of various sugar feeding choices on survival and tolerance of honey bee workers to low temperatures. Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research, 49(1), 6–12. doi:10.4081/jear.2017.6200.
2. Baker, H. G. and Baker, I. (1990). The predictive value of nectar chemistry to the recognition of pollinator types. Israel Journal of Botany, 39(1-2), 157–166. doi:10.1080/0021213X.1990.10677140.
3. Bogo, G., Manincor, N., Fisogni, A., Galloni, M., Bortolotti, L. (2017). Effects of queen mating status, pre-diapause weight and pupae’s sex on colony initiation in small-scale rearing of Bombus terrestris. Apidologie, 48(6), 845–854. doi:10.1007/s13592-017-0529-z.
4. Duchateau, M. J. and Velthuis, H. H. W. (1988). Development and reproductive strategies in Bombus terrestris colonies. Behaviour, 107(3-4), 186–207. doi:10.1163/156853988X00340.
5. Genissel, A., Aupinel, P., Bressac, C., Tasei, J. N., Chevrier, C. (2002). Influence of pollen origin on performance of Bombus terrestris micro colonies. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 104(2), 329–336. doi:10.1023/a:1021279220995.
6. Gonzalez-Teuber, M. and Heil, M. (2009). Nectar chemistry is tailored for both attraction of mutualists and protection from exploiters. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 4(9), 809–813. doi:10.4161/psb.4.9.9393.
7. Gösterit, A. ve Gürel, F. (2014). Bombus arısı (Bombus terrestris L.)’ nın ticari yetistiriciliği için temel gereklilikler. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 9(2), 102–111.
8. Gösterit, A. (2016). Adverse effects of inbreeding on colony foundation success in bumblebees, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Applied Entomology and Zoology, 51(4), 521–526. doi:10.1007/s13355-016-0427-2.

9. Gösterit, A. ve Gürel, F. (2018). The role of commercially produced bumblebees in good agricultural practices. Scientific Papers, Series D. Animal Science, 61(1), 201–204.
10. Gürel, F., Karsli, B. A., Gösterit, A. (2012). Effects of three kinds of sugar syrups on colony development of bumble bee (Bombus terrestris L.). Journal of Apicultural Science, 56(2), 13–18. doi:10.2478/v10289-012-0019-5.
11. Imran, M., Ahmad, M., Naeem, M., Mahmood, K., Nasir, M., Sheikh, U. A. A. (2017). Are colony developmental stages of bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (hymenoptera: apidae) affected by different concentrations of sugar and honey solutions? International Journal of Industrial Entomology, 34(2), 23–31. doi:10.7852/ijie.2017.34.2.23.
12. Kaftanoğlu, O., Linksvayer, T. A., Page, R. E. (2011). Rearing honey bees, Apis mellifera, in vitro 1: Efects of sugar concentrations on survival and development. Journal of Insect Science, 11(96): 96. doi:10.1673/031.011.9601.
13. Konzmann, S. and Lunau, K. (2014). Divergent rules for pollen and nectar foraging Bumblebees - a laboratory study with artificial flowers offering diluted nectar substitute and pollen surrogate. PLOS ONE, 9(3), e91900 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091900.
14. Ollerton, J., Winfree, R., Tarrant, S. (2011). How many flowering plants are pollinated by animals? Oikos, 120(3), 321–326. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2010.18644.x.
15. Rasmont, P., Regali, A., Ings, T. C., Lognay, G., Baudart, E., Marlier, M., Delcarte, E., Viville, P., Marot, C., Falmagne, P., Veriiaegiie, J. C., Chittka, L. (2005). Analysis of pollen and nectar of Arbutus unedo as a food source for Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 98(3), 656–663. doi:10.1603/0022-0493-98.3.656.
16. Ribeiro, M. F., Duchateau, M. J., Velthuis, H. H. W. (1996). Comparison of the effects of two kinds of commercially available pollen on colony development and queen production in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Apidologie, 27(3), 133–144. doi:10.1051/apido:19960302.
17. Roulston, T. H. and Cane, J. H. (2000). Pollen nutritional content and digestibility for animals. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 222(1-4), 187–209. doi:10.1007/BF00984102.
18. Tasei, J. N. and Aupinel, P. (2008). Nutritive value of 15 single pollens and pollen mixes tested on larvae produced by Bumblebee workers (Bombus terrestris, Hymenoptera: Apidae). Apidologie, 39 (4), 397–409.
19. Veldtman, R. (2018). Are managed pollinators ultimately linked to the pollination ecosystem service paradigm?. South African Journal of Science, 114(11-12), a0292
20. Velthuis, H. H. W. and van Doorn, A. (2006). A century of advances in bumblebee domestication and the economic and environmental aspects of its commercialization for pollination. Apidologie, 37(4), 421–425. doi:10.1051/apido:2006019.