授粉用明亮熊蜂的人工饲养技术

为提高授粉用熊蜂人工繁育效率,降低生产成本,对明亮熊蜂Bombus lucorumL.人工饲养中诱导蜂王产卵和人工控制下的交配2个技术环节进行了研究。结果表明,采用诱导器和伴饲2~3只蜜蜂工蜂的诱导方法,蜂王产卵率和蜂群成群率最高,成群时间最短;使用塑料诱导器和木制诱导器的效果没有显著差异。将8~9日龄的蜂王和11~12日龄的雄蜂放入交配笼时,其交配成功率最高。交配笼内的蜂王数量应控制在30只/m3左右。在晴天,交配笼放置在室外(758 000 lux),其交配成功率最高;在阴天,交配笼应放在交配室内,并开启荧光灯照明(35 000 lux),其交配成功率最高。     

不同授粉方式对设施西瓜授粉效果研究

为了探究不同方式组建授粉蜂群的授粉效率,利用意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera蜂王上颚腺信息素（Queen mandibular pheromone, QMP）替代蜂群内的真正蜂王组建授粉蜂群给“日本新秀”西瓜授粉,比较有王群（Queenright）、无王群（Queenless）、假王群（QMP+queenless）和人工授粉（Hand pollinated）4种不同授粉方式对设施西瓜授粉后的产量、品质和蜂群采集活动及蜂群损失情况差异,以此验证利用蜂王上颚腺信息素替代蜂王组建蜂群为设施西瓜授粉的可行性。结果表明：假王群采集活动趋势可与有王群保持一致,两者蜂群损耗、出巢、回巢和带粉回巢的采集蜂数显著高于无王群;有王群和假王群授粉西瓜平均产量均显著高于无王群和人工授粉。有王群、假王群和无王群处理的西瓜果实种子饱子数均显著高于人工授粉。且有王群和假王群西瓜的可溶性固形物含量显著高于无王群和人工授粉处理。综上所述,使用蜂王上颚腺信息素替代蜂王组建小型授粉蜂群为设施西瓜授粉切实可行,该研究为设施作物授粉提供了新的思路和方法,也拓展了昆虫信息素在农业系统中的重要利用价值。     

中蜂与意蜂无王群培育非自身蜂种蜂子及改造王台特性

以中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂为试验材料,通过组织相应无王群,把一蜂种无王群中的子脾加入到另一蜂种无王群中,进行中蜂和意蜂无王群培育非自身蜂种蜂子和改造王台特性研究,当未培育出蜂王时,分别从原有王群中调入子脾进行第2、第3期试验。结果表明:中蜂无王群中的工蜂会清除引入意蜂子脾中的蜂卵,但随着引入意蜂子脾封盖子羽化出房的意蜂幼蜂数量增加而逐渐接受意蜂幼虫,蜂群未改造意蜂王台,只培育出中蜂蜂王;意蜂无王群中的工蜂会随着引入中蜂子脾中羽化出房的中蜂幼蜂数量增加而逐渐接受中蜂卵及幼虫,并从第2期试验开始会改造中蜂王台,但最终只培育出意蜂蜂王。     

中华蜜蜂交配和产卵行为生态学研究

研究了中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana Fab.)蜂王与雄蜂交配行为生态以及蜂王产卵行为生态。结果表明,温度对中华蜜蜂蜂王和雄蜂封盖子期影响,导致蜂王初生重、性成熟时间差异显著(P<0．05),蜂王和雄蜂认巢飞行次数分别为1．23～1．31和1．08～1．13,持续时间分别为0．12～0．13和0．16～0．20h;蜂王和雄蜂交配飞行次数分别为1．10～1．12和1．01～1．05,持续时间分别为0．22～0．23和0．18～0．23h;蜂王与雄蜂交配最适宜温度为20～28℃,蜂王交配飞行一次侧输卵管的精子数为3．37×10^6～4．15×10^6,自然交配产卵蜂王受精囊精子数为3．55×10^6～3．62×10^6蜂王初生重与产卵量之间呈正相关,周年蜂王产卵量受气候和蜜粉源影响明显。     

黑翅土白蚁长翅生殖蚁生殖行为及配对方式研究

【目的】研究黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes fomosanus(Shiraki)生殖行为及不同配对方式对新巢发育的影响。【方法】分别对雌虫、雄虫和配对的雌雄成虫生殖行为进行观察。将雌、雄虫组合成9种配对方式,室内建立170个新巢,分析初建巢生长发育状况。【结果】成虫日活动节律的两个高峰期分别位于9:00—10:00和21:00—22:00,交配集中在高峰期进行,交配前雌雄成虫有触角触碰、首尾衔接成环、互相舔食的标志性行为。生殖蚁来源于同巢和异巢的处理组,在召唤、配对、串联、交配和产卵等生殖行为中均存在差异,来源于异巢的生殖蚁,其配对时间显著长于同巢(P<0.05)。未经分飞的成虫可交配、产卵且成功孵化,3个月后,新巢死亡率为0.61%~0.99%,而分飞蚁新建巢的死亡率为0.22%~0.58%。孤雌生殖可产卵,但卵不能孵化。【结论】成虫的生殖行为有两个高峰期;远亲交配分飞蚁新建巢的生存竞争力最强。     

意蜂（Apis mellifera）蜂王婚飞交尾机制的初探

通过氯气球悬挂意蜂（Apis mellifera）雌蜂及提取物等方法模拟蜂王婚飞交尾试验,比较不同生理状态的雌蜂及其提取物对雄蜂的性引诱力,结果表明：1．在工峰、处女王与产卵王及其提取物中,以产卵王及其提取物对雄峰性诱最大．平均分别为16只和14．3只雄蜂;2．不同数量的处女王提取物对雄蜂引诱力存在差异．以3只处女王提取物对雄蜂引诱力最大,平均引诱31.3只雄蜂;3．1000烛光以上的光照比400烛光以下的光照更有利于雄蜂的水分,且雄蜂集聚的个性体敏越多,相互激活力越强。     

中国红光熊蜂(Bombus ignitus Smith)的饲养与观察

通过室内外饲养 ,观察了我国红光熊蜂蜂群的建立和发展动态。结果表明 ,在温度 2 8± 0 .5℃ ,相对湿度 70± 5 %和无光照的环境条件下 ,平均 84 .85 %越冬红光熊蜂蜂王在饲养后 11.83± 6 .13天开始产卵 ;加入欧洲熊蜂的幼工蜂能够刺激蜂王产卵 ,促使产卵期明显提前 ;健康且已受精的越冬蜂王一般在 2周内产卵 ;在开始饲养后 1个月左右开始出现工蜂 ,2月左右开始产生雄峰 ,雄峰出现后 7d左右产生蜂王。在采集并饲养的蜂王中 ,平均 78.79%的蜂王建立了蜂群 ,每群平均有蜂 180 .2 9± 80 .2 6头 ,其中工蜂 10 5 .90± 4 1.83头 ,雄蜂 6 5 .5 2± 4 5 .33头 ,蜂王 8.86± 12 .38头     

兰州熊蜂蜂王头部产卵相关microRNA生物信息学分析

【目的】头部是熊蜂感觉和取食中心,也是生理行为的指挥中心。microRNA（miRNA）参与重要生理行为的调控。本研究初步探索了产卵和未产卵兰州熊蜂Bombus lantschouensis蜂王头部差异表达miRNA及其靶基因,以期探明蜂王头部miRNA在产卵过程中作用。【方法】以本土优良蜂种兰州熊蜂 B. lantschouensis 为材料,利用Solexa高通量测序技术对产卵和未产卵蜂王头部miRNA进行测序,运用生物信息学软件对miRNA及其靶基因进行预测;并应用qPCR技术验证极显著差异表达的miRNA。【结果】共获得兰州熊蜂产卵和未产卵蜂王头部miRNA的clean data数,分别为14 228 864和21 431 031 条reads;长度分析表明,在19~24 nt序列中22 nt序列数量最多,分别占产卵和未产卵蜂王序列的45.8%和45.1%。miRNA预测结果显示,共获得297个miRNA,其中270个为已知miRNA,有92个存在于蜜蜂中,其余178个分别存在于蜜蜂以外的其他物种中;另外27个为新的miRNA。在蜜蜂92个已知的miRNA中,在产卵蜂王头部中表达的共有91个,特异表达的有2个;在未产卵蜂王头部中表达的共有90个,特异表达的有1个。27个新的miRNA中,在产卵蜂王头部中表达的共有22个,特异表达的有2个;未产卵蜂王头部中表达的共有25个,特异表达的有5个。miRNA差异表达分析表明,在产卵与未产卵蜂王头部,共有8个已知miRNA表达量达到差异极显著水平（P<0.01）。qPCR结果表明,这8个表达差异极显著的miRNA均存在于熊蜂体内。在8个差异极显著的miRNA中,3个miRNA进行靶基因预测,发现它们共同调控9个靶基因,这些基因主要参与GTP结合和转录调控。【结论】本研究首次利用高通量测序技术鉴定了熊蜂头部组织的miRNA,并发现蜂王产卵与否受到miRNA差异表达的调控。结果为今后深入开展熊蜂miRNA功能验证及产卵调控机制研究奠定了基础。     

红火蚁的巢间相容性

在室内条件下通过将红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren异巢不同品级的个体置于同一容器中,对红火蚁的巢间相容性进行研究。结果表明,蚁后与异巢幼蚁共处时,异巢幼蚁的羽化率为33.3%,与对照处理的38.3%(蚁后与同巢幼蚁共处)无显著差异。工蚁与异巢幼蚁共处时,异巢幼蚁的羽化率为53.7%,与对照处理的72.2%(工蚁与同巢幼蚁共处)无显著差异。蚁后与异巢工蚁共处时,异巢蚁后的存活率为45%,与对照处理的61.7%(工蚁与同巢蚁后共处)无显著差异。有翅繁殖雌蚁与异巢工蚁共处时,异巢工蚁的存活率为86.7%与对照处理的99.4%(工蚁与同巢有翅繁殖雌蚁共处)存在显著差异;异巢有翅雌蚁的存活率为22.2%,与对照处理的88.9%(工蚁与同巢有翅繁殖雌蚁共处)存在显著差异。由此可见,同区域内红火蚁异巢各品级间存在一定程度的相容性,并巢行为有可能发生。     

北戴河朱鹮野化训练种群的繁殖和婚外配北大核心CSCD

为了扩大朱鹮(Nipponia nippon)种群的数量和分布区,于2018年7月从洋县引进20只朱鹮在北戴河建立了朱鹮野化种群。2020年繁殖期,北戴河共有22只朱鹮,其中成年朱鹮17只,雌雄性比为1.1;实际繁殖密度为37.8只/hm2;人工巢的密度为40.0巢/hm2,人工巢筐内径为50 cm。2020年繁殖期,北戴河朱鹮共配对8对,其中6对繁殖成功,营巢成功率为75%;共产卵33枚,平均窝卵数为(4.1±1.8)枚;出壳18只,孵化率54.5%;出飞13只,出飞率72.2%,繁殖成功率为39.4%,繁殖生产力为2.2±1.2。与洋县饲养种群相比,北戴河种群首枚卵的产卵时间晚17 d,与两地温差相吻合。北戴河朱鹮的窝卵数显著高于洋县种群,这可能是由种内巢寄生所致。监控录像表明,北戴河1巢朱鹮的窝卵数高达6枚,超过野生种群平均窝卵数(2或3枚)的2倍,推测发生了种内巢寄生行为。此外,还观察到8号巢朱鹮同时发生了婚外配和种内巢寄生行为,婚外配雌鸟将卵产在该雄鸟的巢中,使得窝卵数高达7枚。此后在该巢中发现3只朱鹮轮流孵卵,以及2只雌性朱鹮并排孵于同一巢中的异常情况。北戴河朱鹮的种内巢寄生行为可能是因网笼内人工巢址密度较高但隐蔽性较低所致,而婚外配行为可能与种群密度和繁殖密度过高有关。本文有关朱鹮异常繁殖行为的研究结果可为野化网笼内人工巢筐的设置和野化种源的选择提供参考,并提示我们进一步关注朱鹮在环境压力下的表型可塑性和生态适应能力。     

Social influence on age and reproduction: reduced lifespan and fecundity in multi-queen ant colonies

Evolutionary theories of ageing predict that life span increases with decreasing extrinsic mortality, and life span variation among queens in ant species seems to corroborate this prediction: queens, which are the only reproductive in a colony, live much longer than queens in multi-queen colonies. The latter often inhabit ephemeral nest sites and accordingly are assumed to experience a higher mortality risk. Yet, all prior studies compared queens from different single- and multi-queen species. Here, we demonstrate an effect of queen number on longevity and fecundity within a single, socially plastic species, where queens experience the similar level of extrinsic mortality. Queens from single- and two-queen colonies had significantly longer lifespan and higher fecundity than queens living in associations of eight queens. As queens also differ neither in morphology nor the mode of colony foundation, our study shows that the social environment itself strongly affects ageing rate.     

Reproductive allocation within a polygyne, polydomous colony of the ant Myrmica rubra

1. Ant colonies commonly have multiple egg‐laying queens (secondary polygyny). Polygyny is frequently associated with polydomy (single colonies occupy multiple nest sites) and restricted dispersal of females. The production dynamics and reproductive allocation patterns within a population comprising one polygyne, polydomous colony of the red ant Myrmica rubra were studied. 2. Queen number per nest increased with nest density and the number of adult workers increased with the number of resident queens and with nest density. This suggests that nest site limitation promotes polygyny and that workers accumulate in nest units incapable of budding. 3. Nest productivity increased with the number of adult workers and production per queen was independent of queen number. Productivity increased with nest density, suggesting local resource enhancement. This shows that productivity can be a linear function of queen numbers and that the limiting factor is not the egg‐laying capacity of queens. 4. The total and per capita production of reproductives decreased towards the periphery of the colony, suggesting that the spatial location of nest units affects sexual production. Thus nests at the periphery of the colony invested more heavily in new workers. This is consistent with earlier observations in plants and could either represent investment in future budding or increased defence. 5. The colony produced only five new queens and 2071 males, hence the sex ratio was extremely male biased.     

Genetic population structure, queen supersedure and social polymorphism in a social Hymenoptera

In social insects, the emergence of multiple queening is linked to changes in a suite of traits such as the reproductive life span of queens, mating patterns and population structure. We investigated queen turnover, colony longevity, spatial distribution patterns and genetic differentiation in a population of the socially polymorphic ant Formica fusca. Genetic differentiation between the social forms was absent, and mating patterns were similar in the two forms. The spatial distribution of single- and multi-queen colonies indicated an absence of colony reproduction by budding in both colony types. However, the rate of queen supersedure was high in multi-queen colonies and absent in single-queen ones. The social structure of colonies remained stable across years, but colony mortality did not differ between the two social forms. These results imply that differences between social types may appear and persist also in sympatry, and that these differences may occur in some traits, but not others, despite the presence of homogenizing gene flow.     

Queen pheromone regulates egg production in a termite

In social insects, resource allocation is a key factor that influences colony survival and growth. Optimal allocation to queens and brood is essential for maximum colony productivity, requiring colony members to have information on the total reproductive power in colonies. However, the mechanisms regulating egg production relative to the current labour force for brood care remain poorly known. Recently, a volatile chemical was identified as a termite queen pheromone that inhibits the differentiation of new neotenic reproductives (secondary reproductives developed from nymphs or workers) in Reticulitermes speratus. The same volatile chemical is also emitted by eggs. This queen pheromone would therefore be expected to act as an honest message of the reproductive power about queens. In this study, we examined how the queen pheromone influences the reproductive rate of queens in R. speratus. We compared the number of eggs produced by each queen between groups with and without exposure to artificial queen pheromone. Exposure to the pheromone resulted in a significant decrease in egg production in both single-queen and multiple-queen groups. This is the first report supporting the role of queen pheromones as a signal regulating colony-level egg production, using synthetically derived compounds in a termite.     

Colony Failure Linked to Low Sperm Viability in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Queens and an Exploration of Potential Causative Factors

Queen health is closely linked to colony performance in honey bees as a single queen is normally responsible for all egg laying and brood production within the colony. In the U. S. in recent years, queens have been failing at a high rate; with 50% or greater of queens replaced in colonies within 6 months when historically a queen might live one to two years. This high rate of queen failure coincides with the high mortality rates of colonies in the US, some years with >50% of colonies dying. In the current study, surveys of sperm viability in US queens were made to determine if sperm viability plays a role in queen or colony failure. Wide variation was observed in sperm viability from four sets of queens removed from colonies that beekeepers rated as in good health (n = 12; average viability = 92%), were replacing as part of normal management (n = 28; 57%), or where rated as failing (n = 18 and 19; 54% and 55%). Two additional paired set of queens showed a statistically significant difference in viability between colonies rated by the beekeeper as failing or in good health from the same apiaries. Queens removed from colonies rated in good health averaged high viability (ca. 85%) while those rated as failing or in poor health had significantly lower viability (ca. 50%). Thus low sperm viability was indicative of, or linked to, colony performance. To explore the source of low sperm viability, six commercial queen breeders were surveyed and wide variation in viability (range 60–90%) was documented between breeders. This variability could originate from the drones the queens mate with or temperature extremes that queens are exposed to during shipment. The role of shipping temperature as a possible explanation for low sperm viability was explored. We documented that during shipment queens are exposed to temperature spikes (<8 and > 40°C) and these spikes can kill 50% or more of the sperm stored in queen spermathecae in live queens. Clearly low sperm viability is linked to colony performance and laboratory and field data provide evidence that temperature extremes are a potential causative factor.     

New method to stimulate the onset of Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) rearing: Using worker helpers in the presence of frozen pupae

The failure of bumblebee queens to enthusiastically start a colony under laboratory conditions may be due to lack of oviposition during an experiment, a long delay in oviposition from the termination of hibernation, and failure to rear a large first brood. In the present study, the use of frozen male pupae to start the colony with the assistance of bumblebee workers rather than fresh, young, male pupae was investigated under controlled room temperature and humidity conditions. The period of initiation of the colony decreased with an increase in the number of worker helpers from one to six. The period was as short as 3.9 days in the presence of six worker helpers. Second and third broods also started earlier with the help of workers. The rate of first worker production per egg cup was double that of the normal method (i.e. without worker helpers). Egg eating behavior of the queen was not found in the first brood if more than two workers helped the development of the larvae. Four worker helpers were found to be sufficient, as they could produce 100% colony foundation and 91.46% first worker production colonies. This study showed that using frozen old pupae is a good stimulator for colony foundation in the presence of four bumblebee worker helpers.     

Gyne development in the Argentine ant Iridomyrmex humilis: role of overwintering and queen control

Abstract A possible stimulatory effect of overwintering on gyne development in Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr) was investigated. Although gyne-potent larvae are present in the nest throughout the year, small queenless colony fragments composed of freshly overwintered ants (collected in late winter or early spring) produced 3–8 times more gynes than comparable fragments made up of non-freshly overwintered ants (collected at other times of the year). Apparently, this stimulatory effect of overwintering acts on both the developmental potential of larvae and the tendency of workers to rear sexually competent larvae as gynes; queenless colony fragments in which either the brood or workers were freshly overwintered produced more gynes than fragments composed of non-freshly overwintered workers or brood but fewer than fragments containing both brood and workers freshly overwintered. This increased sexualization potential of larvae due to overwintering is enough to overcome weak pheromonal inhibition of queens associated with low queen number; a single queen in a large freshly overwintered colony fragment is insufficient to inhibit gyne development, whereas ten queens are totally inhibitory. In non-freshly overwintered colony fragments one queen is completely inhibitory. Variability in egg developmental potential according to queen age does not appear to play a major role in the seasonal production of gynes, because at least some eggs of very young queens (less than 3 weeks old) are capable of gyne development. In the field this stimulatory effect of overwintering is superimposed on a seasonal fluctuation in the combined strength of pheromonal queen control. In southern France, gynes are produced only in spring where they arise primarily from overwintered larvae just after a sharp drop in queen number, and presumably the total level of inhibitory queen pheromone, due to the massive execution of queens by workers.     

Effect of temperature on queen oviposition and seasonal colony development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasius japonicus</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Although day length plays a critical role in the seasonal development of many temperate insects, this study showed that this variable is less important than temperature for seasonal regulation of an ant’s life cycle. Here, we examined the effects of temperature on queen oviposition and seasonal colony development of Lasius japonicus Santschi. Queens were collected soon after their nuptial flight and were reared under constant laboratory conditions; colony development was analyzed. The percentage of larvae- and pupae-emerged colonies was reduced in low rearing temperatures, indicating that temperature is the primary environmental factor for the regulation of seasonal development. Larval diapause was induced at higher temperatures than the reproductive diapause of queens. Larvae need to enter diapause before winter; nevertheless, eggs that were still unhatched in late autumn would not necessarily be wasted because they could be eaten by queens. Cyclic fluctuation in the egg number was observed. At 25 °C, the second increase in egg number was synchronized with pupation, suggesting a social effect on queen oviposition. In contrast, at 20 and 17.5 °C, the clear second peak of oviposition was found in colonies wherein larvae did not emerge, suggesting that endogenous rhythmicity is involved in the regulation of queen oviposition.     

A comparison of queen oviposition rates from monogyne and polygyne fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, colonies

Abstract. The oviposition rate of individual queens of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in relation to their weight and number of queens present in the colony was investigated by direct 2 h observations. There is a strong positive correlation between the weight of a queen and its oviposition rate in both monogyne and polygyne colonies. However, the number of eggs laid per mg queen is higher for moonogyne queens than for polygyne queens. This difference is more evident when the total weight of queens present in a colony is considered. The individual queen oviposition rate is negatively correlated with the number of queens in the colony. In addition, the weight loss per egg laid is significantly greater for polygyne than for monogyne queens, probably due to differences in egg size. These data suggest that oviposition is more efficient in monogyne than in polygyne queens at the individual level; however, at the colony level, polygyne colonies produce significantly more eggs. Comparison of colony level efficiency predicts that polygyne colonies must have at least nine queens to compete reproductively with a mature monogyne queen. Therefore, oligogyny does not appear to be a viable strategy for S.invicata.     

Queen-worker conflicts over male production and sex allocation in a primitively eusocial wasp

Abstract In a colony headed by a single monandrous foundress, theories predict that conflicts between a queen and her workers over both sex ratio and male production should be intense. If production of males by workers is a function of colony size, this should affect sex ratios, but few studies have examined how queens and workers resolve both conflicts simultaneously. We conducted field and laboratory studies to test whether sex-ratio variation can be explained by conflict over male production between queen and workers in the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes chinensis antennalis.
Worker oviposition rate increased more rapidly with colony size than did queen oviposition. Allozyme and micro-satellite markers revealed that the mean frequency of workers' sons among male adults in queen-right colonies was 0.39 ± 0.08 SE (n = 22). Genetic relatedness among female nestmates was high (0.654–0.796), showing that colonies usually had a single, monandrous queen. The mean sex allocation ratio (male investment/male and gyne investments) of 46 queen-right colonies was 0.47 ± 0.02, and for 25 orphaned colonies was 0.86 ± 0.04. The observed sex allocation ratio was likely to be under queen control. For queen-right colonies, the larger colonies invested more in males and produced reproductives protandrously and/or simultaneously, whereas the smaller colonies invested more in females and produced reproductives protogynously. Instead of positive relationships between colony size and worker oviposition rate, the frequency of workers' sons within queen-right colonies did not increase with colony size. These results suggest that queens control colony investment, even though they allow worker oviposition in queen-right colonies. Eggs laid by workers may be policed by the queen and/or fellow workers. Worker oviposition did not influence the outcome of sex allocation ratio as a straightforward function of colony size.