A method for year-round rearing of cuckoo bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Bombus subgenus Psithyrus) |
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Authors: | Patrick Lhomme Anna Sramkova Kirsten Kreuter Thomas Lecocq Pierre Rasmont Manfred Ayasse |
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Institution: | 1. Laboratory of Zoology , University of Mons, Place du Parc 23 , B-7000 , Mons , Belgium patrick.lhomme@umons.ac.be;3. Institute of Experimental Ecology , University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11 , D-89069 , Ulm , Germany;4. Laboratory of Zoology , University of Mons, Place du Parc 23 , B-7000 , Mons , Belgium |
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Abstract: | Summary. The study of the social interactions between host bumblebees and their inquiline species requires rearing them. Here we provide a simple method for rearing of cuckoo bumblebees (Bombus subgenus Psithyrus) in the laboratory. Two bumblebee cuckoo-host systems are used: Bombus (Psithyrus) vestalis hosted by B. (Bombus) terrestris and B. (Psithyrus) sylvestris hosted by B. (Pyrobombus) pratorum. First, the invasion of the Psithyrus female is performed in species-specific host colonies containing approximately 10 young workers. On average, a parasitized colony of B. terrestris produced 90 ± 9 young males and 21 ± 3 young females of B. vestalis, whereas a parasitized colony of B. pratorum produced 16 ± 2 young males and 5 ± 1 young females of B. sylvestris. One week after emergence, Psithyrus virgin females are placed in a flight cage exposed to natural light, with Psithyrus males of other colonies. After successful mating, the females are isolated and overwintered in a cold room at 4°C for 2–4 months. This method enables a year-round and mass breeding of Psithyrus species to facilitate studies of these rare species. |
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Keywords: | Bombus social parasitism laboratory rearing bumblebee breeding |
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