The two-queen cascade method as an alternative technique for starting bumble bee (Bombus, Hymenoptera, Apidae) colonies in laboratory (Preliminary study)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2000 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Pcelnicze zeszyty naukowe. |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Bumble bees; Bombus; terrestris; pascuorum; |
| Description | When bumble bee queens are kept in pairs under laboratory rearing condition in most cases after one or two weeks one queen of a pair becomes dominant and lays eggs. If queens remain together the submissive one usually is killed during several consecutive days. The loses can be avoided by putting the submissive queens in couples of the second level, and similarly the process can be repeated even once more so that three levels of pairs can be used. The method was successful in B. terrestris, and B. pasacuorum, and partially also in B. lucorum, and B. lapidarius. The advantages and disadvantages of the technique are discussed. |
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