Techniques to Increase Queen Production in Bombus terrestris L. Colonies


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GÜREL F., Karsli B.

KAFKAS UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI, vol.19, no.2, pp.351-353, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 19 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.9775/kvfd.2012.7613
  • Journal Name: KAFKAS UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.351-353
  • Keywords: Bombus terrestris, Queen breeding, Colony management, BUMBLE BEE
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: No

Abstract

To increase the production of queens in B. terrestris colonies, after the emergence of the first workers, colonies were randomly allocated to four groups as comprised 4 colonies in each of them. Colonies in control group (group 1) were formed without adding workers or pupae from a different colony, while colonies in group 2, group 3 and group 4 were designed by adding 60 pupae from a different colony, adding 60 workers from a different colony and placing two colonies (queens) together in the nest box, respectively. The two-queen colonies could not be developed because of aggressiveness towards each other. The average number of queens produced per colony in control, group 2, and group 3 colonies were 56.3 +/- 35.9, 72.5 +/- 25.0 and 145.3 +/- 61.8, respectively. The results showed that adding workers from a different colony can be used as a useful method in the rearing of bumblebee queens.