巢管内径尺寸对凹唇壁蜂(膜翅目:切叶蜂科)种群参数的影响

【目的】凹唇壁蜂Osmia excavata Alfken是我国北方果园重要的授粉昆虫,为明确人类管理措施对凹唇壁蜂种群动态的影响,本文主要探索人工巢管(芦苇管)的内径尺寸与凹唇壁蜂基本种群参数的关联,从而为维持凹唇壁蜂种群以传粉为目的扩繁确定最合适的巢管尺寸。【方法】通过在苹果园放置不同内径大小的巢管,收集凹唇壁蜂种群,进一步比较了3种不同内径尺寸(6、8、10 mm)的巢管中凹唇壁蜂蜂重、茧长、性比、寄生率和死亡率的差异。最后,综合以上结果评价了巢管内径尺寸对凹唇壁蜂种群参数的影响。【结果】(1)凹唇壁蜂具有雌雄体型性二型现象,雌蜂茧重是雄蜂的1.67倍,雌蜂茧长是雄蜂的1.15倍。(2)一定范围内增加巢管的内径可以显著增加凹唇壁蜂后代的性比(雌蜂比例)、蜂重和茧长。(3)凹唇壁蜂亲本对后代的投资随着巢管内径的增加而增加。【结论】凹唇壁蜂可根据外界筑巢条件的变化调整其对子代的亲本投资和性别分配比例。直径较小的巢管中,对应亲本所产后代偏向个体较小的雄性;直径较大的巢管中,对应亲本所产后代偏向个体较大的雌性。可获得的孔穴的尺寸能够通过影响凹唇壁蜂后代种群的体型和性比,进而影响当地壁蜂种群的结构和稳定性。因此,在半驯养独居蜂的繁育过程中,可以通过人工控制巢管内径尺寸,以筑巢直径8-10mm为最适合范围,来调整后代的蜂重、茧长、性比等,进而优化对半驯养独居蜂的种群管理。     

管氏肿腿蜂不同类型种蜂的繁蜂效果研究

经连续多代利用中间寄主黄粉甲人工扩繁管氏肿腿蜂后,种蜂出现一定退化,主要表现为寄生率和寄生成功率下降、单管出蜂量减少、子代蜂体型趋小等等。种蜂退化与繁育寄主的营养状况、种蜂保藏条件和接蜂繁育条件等因素有关。本研究根据设定的形态差异标准把种蜂划分为Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型、Ⅲ型种蜂,将3种类型种蜂分别进行繁育试验,统计比较各型种蜂的母代寄生率、寄生成功率、单管出蜂量、子代性比、存活率等参数,确定在人工扩繁应选用的种蜂类型。结果表明:Ⅰ型种蜂经50 d的适宜条件保藏后,以3∶1蜂虫比接蜂繁育,繁育效果更佳。     

野生角额壁蜂与果园角额壁蜂的生活力

为探讨野生角额壁蜂Osmia cornifrons(Radoszkowski)与果园角额壁蜂的生活力是否存在差异,在苹果梨园进行二者的出茧率和繁殖比比较试验。结果表明:野生角额壁蜂与连续3年在果园释放和回收的果园角额壁蜂的出茧率和繁殖比差异都显著,野生角额壁蜂与果园角额壁蜂的出茧率分别为80.75%和65.69%,繁殖比分别为1.55和1.14。野生角额壁蜂的生活力明显比果园角额壁蜂强。     

苹果园周围生境对凹唇壁蜂种群的维持作用

【目的】凹唇壁蜂Osmia excavata Alfken是我国重要授粉昆虫之一,在北方苹果树授粉有极其重要的作用。如何通过管理措施,维持壁蜂种群成为急需解决的重要问题之一。【方法】以苹果园和周围生境为研究区域,在四类不同生境类型中(苹果园中心区与边缘区,苹果周围生境中心区和边缘区),共选取18个点,采用粘虫板(白板和黄板)和蜂巢(芦苇管和塑料巢箱)两种不同调查方式监测凹唇壁蜂及其天敌叉唇寡毛土蜂种群数量动态,重点分析苹果园周围生境对凹唇壁蜂种群的维持作用。【结果】粘虫板调查结果表明:整体上凹唇壁蜂的数量在苹果园周围生境(65%±17%)高于苹果园生境(35%±12%)。芦苇巢管调查表明:凹唇壁蜂筑巢数量在苹果园周围生境(69%±26%)高于苹果园生境(31%±9%);塑料巢管调查表明,凹唇壁蜂筑巢数量在苹果园周围生境(48%±13%)与苹果园生境(52%±13%)基本相同。苹果园的周围生境可以为释放在果园内的壁蜂提供稳定觅食筑巢条件,起到有效维持凹唇壁蜂种群的作用。【结论】苹果园景观中的凹唇壁蜂种群受生境类型的影响,果园周围的生境可以为凹唇壁蜂等授粉昆虫提供栖息空间与食物资源,具有重要价值。在苹果园实际生产与管理时,应考虑在其周围生境中保护与种植更多的开花植物,为以凹唇壁蜂为代表的授粉昆虫提供适宜的栖息环境和补充食物,维持其种群。     

无光繁育赤眼蜂的初步试验

繁育赤眼蜂大都采用有光繁蜂法,似乎“光”有调匀蜂量而提高青蜂质量的作用。为了弄清“光”的作用问题,我们进行了无光繁育赤服蜂的试验。现将结果简介如下: 一、赤眼蜂在无光条件下的 扩散距离 为了验证赤眼蜂在无光条件下扩散和寄生能力,我们用大房间散卵接蜂器繁育的松毛虫赤眼蜂为蜂种(寄生率85％,平均单粒有蜂70     

五种壁蜂的鉴别特征

壁蜂属 Osmia绝大多数属独栖蜂 ,并具有很强的访花习性。我国自 1 987年从日本引进角额壁蜂 Osmia cornifrons(Rad.)后 ,开始在苹果、梨、李、桃、杏及樱桃等多种北方落叶果树花期 ,利用壁蜂授粉 ,提高坐果率。我国北方春季果树花期常见的壁蜂种类有角额壁蜂 Osmia图　 5种壁蜂雌虫鉴别特征A～ D,唇基两侧的角状突 (侧面观 ) :A.角额壁蜂　 B.叉壁蜂　 C.叉壁蜂 (顶面观 )　 D.壮壁蜂 ;E～ I,唇基端缘特征 (前面观 ) :E.角额壁蜂　F.叉壁蜂　 G.壮壁蜂　 H.凹唇壁蜂　I.紫壁蜂cornifrons(Rad.)、凹唇壁蜂 O.excavataAlfken、紫壁蜂 …     

山东苹果园凹唇壁蜂种群的制约因子分析

【目的】凹唇壁蜂Osmia excavata Alflken是山东苹果园的主要授粉昆虫,明确影响凹唇壁蜂种群的自然因子,对于发挥其传粉生态服务功能有重要意义【方法】本文应用生命表方法,比较研究了山东省6个地点的壁蜂种群参数。【结果】各个地点的成茧率(7.64%~73.84%)和每管成茧数量(0.80~5.56)存在非常大的差异;6个地点的种群趋势指数大于1,变化范围为1.80~11.80;壁蜂种群的致死因子包括卵败育、螨寄生、蜂捕食和自然死亡,排除作用控制指数分别为1.07、1.10、1.03、2.53,各地所有致死因子的排除作用控制指数为1.19~5.50,如果没有寄生、自然死亡等因子,凹唇壁蜂种群将增加19%~450%。【结论】自然死亡是限制山东省果园凹唇壁蜂种群的主要因子,因此需要加强凹唇壁蜂饲养管理,减少其自然死亡率。     

凹唇壁蜂为油菜授粉的行为特征及经济价值评估

【目的】凹唇壁蜂Osmia excavata Alfken是近年来被迅速应用的一种传粉昆虫。明确凹唇壁蜂对油菜的授粉行为、授粉效果,评估凹唇壁蜂对油菜的授粉功能量及经济服务价值,有利于加深社会对凹唇壁蜂的认知并促进其在油菜上的推广应用。【方法】在油菜田内,于油菜开花前,把油菜区域划定为凹唇壁蜂授粉区、隔离授粉区两个区域,实验过程中用摄像机记录凹唇壁蜂授粉行为和效果。采用蜜蜂依存度市场估价法,结合我国国情,评估2015年间油菜凹唇壁蜂授粉的经济价值,并探索凹唇壁蜂对油菜生产的重要性。【结果】60%以上的凹唇壁蜂在上午7:00到8:00出巢,下午4:30到5:30归巢,日出巢活动时间约9.58 h。凹唇壁蜂在每朵花上平均停留时间达10.89 s。凹唇壁蜂授粉区在单角果鲜重、结角果率、单角果籽粒数上比隔离授粉区分别提高2.74%、4.81%、11.48%。结合2015年数据,计算得出凹唇壁蜂对我国各省份油菜的授粉功能量超过373.3万吨,授粉服务总价值超过194.102亿元,从凹唇壁蜂授粉功能量和服务价值来看,凹唇壁蜂具有极大的生态价值、经济价值。【结论】凹唇壁蜂具有传粉优势,组织凹唇壁蜂在油菜花期进行辅助授粉,是提高油菜产量的一条重要途径,对提高油菜产生的经济效益具有积极的作用。凹唇壁蜂授粉是应该得到重视的生产投入,应当提高民众对凹唇壁蜂授粉价值的认知度。     

不同繁育器材对褐带卷蛾茧蜂繁育效果比较

为提高以大蜡螟为替代寄主繁育棕榈害虫红脉穗螟幼虫寄生蜂——褐带卷蛾茧蜂的增殖效果,比较了100目管、60目管、透明网盒、顶透瓶和透气离心管5种繁育器材对褐带卷蛾茧蜂的室内繁育效果。研究结果表明,供试的器材均可进行褐带卷蛾茧蜂的繁育,但繁育效果存在差异,其中60目管寄生效果较佳,表现在寄主被成功寄生率相对较高,平均达到80%,单头雌蜂产蜂数最高,平均为24.13头,被成功寄生的寄主单头出蜂率亦最高,为30.11头,其次为100目管、透明网盒、顶透瓶,而透气离心管饲养效果较差。     

陕西省壁蜂区系调查与利用研究：膜翅目：切叶蜂科

陕西当地存在3种壁蜂:叉壁蜂Osmia pedicornis Cockerell、凹唇壁蜂Osmiaexcavata Alfken、角额壁蜂Osmia cornifrons(Radoszkowski),其中凹唇壁蜂和角额壁蜂在陕西为首次发现。3种壁蜂于早春苹果、梨、桃、杏等果树开花前后出来活动,均有较强的访花授粉特性,野生自然条件下,多在土洞、石缝、房屋墙壁等处营巢,对人工制作的芦苇管巢和纸管巢营巢率也很高。     

Red mason bees cannot compete with honey bees for floral resources in a cage experiment

Intensive beekeeping to mitigate crop pollination deficits and habitat loss may cause interspecific competition between bees. Studies show negative correlations between flower visitation of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and wild bees, but effects on the reproduction of wild bees were not proven. Likely reasons are that honey bees can hardly be excluded from controls and wild bee nests are generally difficult to detect in field experiments. The goal of this study was to investigate whether red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) compete with honey bees in cages in order to compare the reproduction of red mason bees under different honey bee densities. Three treatments were applied, each replicated in four cages of 18 m³ with 38 red mason bees in all treatments and 0, 100, and 300 honey bees per treatment with 10–20% being foragers. Within the cages, the flower visitation and interspecific displacements from flowers were observed. Niche breadths and resource overlaps of both bee species were calculated, and the reproduction of red mason bees was measured. Red mason bees visited fewer flowers when honey bees were present. Niche breadth of red mason bees decreased with increasing honey bee density while resource overlaps remained constant. The reproduction of red mason bees decreased in cages with honey bees. In conclusion, our experimental results show that in small and isolated flower patches, wild bees can temporarily suffer from competition with honey bees. Further research should aim to test for competition on small and isolated flower patches in real landscapes.     

Nesting aggregation as a predictor of brood parasitism in mason bees (Osmia spp.)

1. Parasitism can be an important source of mortality for insect populations; however, we know little about the factors influencing vulnerability of wild bees to parasites. Mason bees (genus Osmia; Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) are important pollinators of crops and wild plants and are vulnerable to attack by brood parasites. High nest densities may increase rates of brood parasitism by attracting disproportionate numbers of parasites. 2. Three years of field observations from multiple sites were analysed to assess whether mason bee brood parasitism increased with host density. Mason bees were allowed to nest in artificial nesting blocks and establish natural variation in nesting density. Nest cells constructed by bees were checked for the presence of parasite eggs. 3. Parasitism of nest cells strongly increased with the number of actively nesting bees at a nesting block. Mason bees showed no preference for nesting in blocks that were occupied or unoccupied by other mason bees. Parasitism also increased with the number of days a nest was provisioned and decreased over the course of the season. Nest cells constructed last in a nest were significantly more parasitised than inner cells, despite being sealed against invasions. 4. These findings show positively density‐dependent parasitism in mason bees. They also suggest that bees terminate parasitised nests, causing parasitised cells to become outermost nest cells – a behaviour that may represent a defence against parasites. Our results have implications for the management of mason bees as agricultural pollinators, as cultivating them at high densities could reduce offspring survival.     

Pollination efficiency and foraging behaviour of honey bees and non‐Apis bees to sweet cherry

1. Crop pollination generally increases with pollinator diversity and wild pollinator visitation. To optimize crop pollination, it is necessary to investigate the pollination contribution of different pollinator species. In the present study, we examined this contribution of honey bees and non‐Apis bees (bumble bees, mason bees and other solitary bees) in sweet cherry.
2. We assessed the pollination efficiency (fruit set of flowers receiving only one visit) and foraging behaviour (flower visitation rate, probability of tree change, probability of row change and contact with the stigma) of honey bees and different types of non‐Apis bees.
3. Single visit pollination efficiency on sweet cherry was higher for both mason bees and solitary bees compared with bumble bees and honey bees. The different measures of foraging behaviour were variable among non‐Apis bees and honey bees. Adding to their high single visit efficiency, mason bees also visited significantly more flower per minute, and they had a high probability of tree change and a high probability to contact the stigma.
4. The results of the present study highlight the higher pollination performance of solitary bees and especially mason bees compared with bumble bees and honey bees. Management to support species with high pollination efficiency and effective foraging behaviour will promote crop pollination.

     

Forage quality and quantity affect red mason bees and honeybees differently in flowers of strawberry varieties

Nectar is a vital source of energy for bees and other pollinators and pollen represents the only source of protein in the diet of bees. Nectar and pollen quality and quantity can therefore affect foraging choices. Strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa (Rosaceae), is a flowering crop that requires insect pollination for the berries to develop optimally. The solitary red mason bee, Osmia bicornis L. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), occurs naturally but like the eusocial western honeybee, Apis mellifera mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), it is also a commercially reared pollinator used in strawberry production. We hypothesized that strawberry nectar and pollen quality would affect the foraging choice of these two types of bees. In this study nectar and pollen quality is represented by various levels of sugar and protein content, respectively, as well as the number of open strawberry flowers in the experimental field, would affect the foraging choice of these two types of bees. Consistent with previous studies, we found significant and major differences between strawberry varieties in proportions of sucrose in the nectar sugar and in pollen viability – a proxy for pollen protein content. All measured parameters had a significant effect on red mason bee visitation frequency. Contrary to expectations, honeybee foraging behavior was only affected by the number of open flowers and not by any of the quality parameters measured. Our findings indicate that red mason bees were capable of assessing nectar and pollen quality and prioritize accordingly. The pattern observed indicates that individual red mason bees changed foraging focus between strawberry varieties depending on whether nectar or pollen was collected. Our results suggest that targeted breeding of varieties toward high levels of nectar sugar and sucrose concentrations and high pollen protein content may increase pollination success from red mason bees and possibly other solitary bees.     

Pollination efficiency of wild bees and hoverflies provided to oilseed rape

• 1 Declining numbers in honeybees and various wild bee species pose a threat to global pollination services. The identification and quantification of the pollination service provided by different taxa within the pollinator guild is a prerequisite for the successful establishment of nature conservation and crop management regimes.
• 2 Wild bees and hoverflies are considered to be valuable pollinators in agricultural and natural systems. Although some information on pollination efficiency of individual pollinator species is available, comparative studies of both taxa at different densities are rare. In the present study, the efficiency of the solitary mason bee Osmia rufa and two hoverfly species (Eristalis tenax and Episyrphus balteatus) as pollinators of oilseed rape Brassica napus was examined in a standardized caged plant breeding regime. Honeybee Apis mellifera colonies were used as a reference pollinator taxon.
• 3 Yield parameters responded differently to pollinator density and identity. Fruit set and number of seeds per pod increased with increasing pollinator density, although these were stronger in the mason bee than the hoverfly treatment. Weight per 1000 seeds did not respond to any pollinator treatment, indicating that seed quality was not affected. Oilseed rape yield in the highest tested densities of both pollinator taxa resulted in yield values close to the efficiency of small honeybee colonies.
• 4 Hoverflies required approximately five‐fold densities of the red mason bees to reach a similar fruit set and yield. Thus, mason bees are more efficient in plant breeding and managed pollination systems. Both natural pollinator taxa, however, are of potential value in open and closed crop production systems.

     

The antioxidant system in diapausing and active red mason bee Osmia bicornis

The red mason bee Osmia bicornis L. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) belongs to a group of insects that undergo an obligatory diapause in the imago stage. Red mason bees (O. bicornis) consume oxygen during overwintering diapause, and reactive oxygen species can be produced despite substantial inhibition of metabolism. These are first studies to investigate the antioxidant system in diapausing red mason bees and to compare the antioxidant systems of overwintering and active imagines. The present study analyzes total antioxidant status, glutathione and ascorbic acid levels, and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase in overwintering (October to March) and active (April) female and male O. bicornis. Diapause phases (prediapause, diapause and post‐diapause) cannot be distinguished based on the parameters of the antioxidant system of the bees. During overwintering, a significant decrease is noted only in ascorbic acid content. The remaining antioxidants remain fairly stable, which indicates the absence of oxidative stress in diapausing specimens. The analyzed parameters distinguish diapausing bees from active insects. Excluding total antioxidant status, the evaluated parameters are significantly higher in active individuals than in overwintering specimens. Sex‐related differences are found only for catalase, the level of which is consistently higher in males than in females.     

Introduction of Non-Native Pollinators Can Lead to Trans-Continental Movement of Bee-Associated Fungi

Bees are essential pollinators for many flowering plants, including agriculturally important crops such as apple. As geographic ranges of bees or their host plants change as a result of human activities, we need to identify pathogens that could be transmitted among newly sympatric species to evaluate and anticipate their effects on bee communities. We used PCR screening and DNA sequencing to evaluate exposure to potentially disease-causing microorganisms in a pollinator of apple, the horned mason bee (Osmia cornifrons). We did not detect microsporidia, Wolbachia, or trypanosomes, which are common pathogens of bees, in any of the hundreds of mason bees screened. We did detect both pathogenic and apathogenic (saprophytic) fungal species in the genus Ascosphaera (chalkbrood), an unidentified species of Aspergillus fungus, and a strain of bacteria in the genus Paenibacillus that is probably apathogenic. We detected pathogenic fungal strains in asymptomatic adult bees that therefore may be carriers of disease. We demonstrate that fungi from the genus Ascosphaera have been transported to North America along with the bee from its native range in Japan, and that O. cornifrons is exposed to fungi previously only identified from nests of other related bee species. Further study will be required to quantify pathogenicity and health effects of these different microbial species on O. cornifrons and on closely-related native North American mason bees that may now be exposed to novel pathogens. A global perspective is required for pathogen research as geographic ranges of insects and microorganisms shift due to intentional or accidental introductions.     

Predation Cues in Solitary bee Nests

Predation at the nesting site can significantly affect solitary bees’ reproductive success. We tested female red mason bees’ (Osmia bicornis L.) acceptance of potential nesting sites, some of which were marked with cues coming from predated conspecifics (crushed bees) or from a predator itself (rodent excreta). In our experiment, females did not avoid nests marked with either of the two predator cues. We suggest that bee females do not recognize these two cues as risky. Alternatively, costs of abandoning natal aggregation might be too high compared with any perceived predation risk of staying. Moreover, the presence of crushed bees can provide positive information about the presence of conspecifics and, possibly, information about a nesting aggregation that may be preferred by bees when choosing a nesting site.     

马先蒿属花冠形态的多样性与传粉式样的关系

马先蒿属(Pediculais)是有花植物中花冠形态多样化最为集中的属。该属主要的传粉者是熊蜂属(Bormbus)昆虫;在北美,熊蜂和蜂鸟是马先蒿植物一些种类有效的传粉者;也发现壁蜂(Osmia)为其传粉。不同的传粉机制要求某一特定的取食式样储藏和释放花粉。本文讨论了花冠类型的进化趋势与传粉式样和花粉形态的关系。传粉者的选择压力是决定花冠多样化的重要因素之一;花冠类型与传粉者和传粉行为紧密相关。马先蒿植物和传粉者的相互依赖与其花冠类型、功能和物候互相适应,但花冠类型与花粉形态两者之间似乎没有明显的一一对应关系。通过北美、日本和喜马拉雅不同地理分布马先蒿种类的比较研究表明,具有相同花冠类型的种类有着相同的传粉方式,花冠形态与传粉式样存在紧密的协同进化关系。     

Dispersed versus gregarious nesting strategies in the mason bee Chalicodoma siculum

Chalicodoma siculum (Rossi) is a mason bee that usually nests in dispersed sites, constructing spherical mud nests on twigs or hemispherical nests on hard surfaces. Under favourable conditions it may nest in aggregations of several hundred bees. At the nesting aggregation, nest usurpation often occurs, either by the laying of eggs in finished but unsealed cells, by opening a sealed cell and replacing its egg, or by taking over an unfinished cell. Mutual construction and provisioning of a single cell by several females was also often observed. Because participant bees display extreme aggression in prolonged disputes over cell ownership, these interactions can be regarded as competitive rather than cooperative. Moreover, since the total investment in such cells is not different from that in cells located in dispersed sites, the female that actually manages to lay an egg gains by participating in a cell under construction.
We discuss the advantages of nesting in aggregations vs. the risks of being usurped, as selective forces underlying nesting behaviour of bees.