Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Notes on the laboratory rearing of the Japanese endangered bumblebee, Bombus cryptarum florilegus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Applied Entomology and Zoology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bombus cryptarum florilegus is a rare bumblebee in Japan. We tried to rear this bumblebee under laboratory conditions to investigate its nesting habits and colony development. Five queens out of 15 were successful in establishing colonies, and new queens and males were produced from these colonies. In the laboratory colonies, the average numbers of workers, males, and new queens per colony of B. cryptarum florilegus were 15.2 ± 4.7, 26.0 ± 8.0, and 2.0 ± 2.1, respectively. Although a feral colony producing five hundred cocoons has been reported, B. cryptarum florilegus established small colonies under laboratory conditions. Further study suggests that the improvement of rearing technique is required to produce the large colony of B. cryptarum florilegus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig.1

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

References

  • Asada S, Ono M (2000) Differences in colony development of two Japanese bumblebees, Bombus hypocrita and B. ignitus (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Appl Entomol Zool 35:597–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duchateau MJ (1991) Regulation of colony development in bumblebees. Proc. 6th Int. Symp Pollination Acta Hort 288:139–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujimoto E, Konno H, Takahashi J (2022) Discovery of a mature nest of Bombus cryptarum florilegus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Nemuro Peninsula. Japan Jpn J Ent 25:9–13 (in Japanese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goulson D, Lye GC, Darvill B (2008) Decline and conservation of bumble bees. Ann Rev Entomol 53:191–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katayama E (1975) Egg-laying habits and brood development in Bombus hypocrita (Hymenoptera, Apidae). II brood development and feeding habits. Kontyu 43:478–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinota K, Takamizawa K, Ito M (2013) The bumblebees of Japan. Hokkaido University Press, Sapporo, pp 92–95 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ono M, Mitsuhata M, Sasaki M (1994) Use of introduced Bombus trrrestris worker helpers for rapid development of Japanese native B. hypocrita colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Appl Entomol Zool 29:413–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi J, Yamasaki K, Mitsuhata M, Martin JS, Ono M, Tsubaki Y (2010) Bumblebee fauna of the Nemuro Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan: with special reference to the effect of the invasive Bombus terrestris on the rare B. florilegus. Japanese J Conserv Ecol 15:101–110 ((in Japanese))

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi T, Sasaki T, Mitsuhata M, Kiyoshi T, Nishimoto M, Nomura T, Takahashi J (2019) Low mitochondrial DNA variation in the endangered bumble bee Bombus cryptarum florilegus. J Apicult Res 58:591–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Honeybee Science Research Center, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan

    Ryohei Kubo & Masato Ono

  2. Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan

    Masato Ono

Authors
  1. Ryohei Kubo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masato Ono
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryohei Kubo.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 75 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kubo, R., Ono, M. Notes on the laboratory rearing of the Japanese endangered bumblebee, Bombus cryptarum florilegus (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Appl Entomol Zool 58, 193–196 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-023-00817-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-023-00817-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation