Abstract
Bumble bees are known to be amongst the most efficient natural pollinators and their increased scarcity in the ecosystem has led us to study their habitat and ethological preferences, so that future efforts can be designed for their restoration under the natural habitat. The present investigation explores the natural nest architecture, structural features of nest habitat, location of the nest, environmental parameters, population dynamics, emergence of drones, gynes, and variation in the sex ratio of Bombus haemorrhodalis. A total of ten natural nests were excavated at different altitudes ranging from 473.05 to 1258.52 m from different sites in two locations Nauni and Gandhal. The species inhabited the underground abandoned rodent’s cavities as nests at a depth of 15 cm to 140 cm with 1–2 external hidden entrances or below ground covered with involucrum made of small dried grass, leaves, pine needles, paper infused on/with wax, etc. The shape of the nest varied from circular to oval with an average size of about 3.88 cubic decimeters. The colony strength of all excavated nests ranged between 15 and 113 individuals, with average internal ambient temperature and relative humidity of the nest cavity varying from 20.9–29.7 °C and 24.6–79.3 percent, respectively. The honey storage (length x width; 16.02 × 15.74 mm), queen (15.02 × 14.60 mm), worker (13.25 × 12.58 mm) and drone cells (11.13 mm × 10.45 mm) varied in dimensions and were constructed by the workers with colony development. As a potential natural strategy to ensure survival, the gynes emerged earlier and higher in number than drones in late summer to early autumn and this progeny survived until the end of autumn. The current study exploring the natural environment of B. haemorrhoidalis helps understand and correlate the natural nest characteristics with laboratory-reared colonies for year-round rearing.
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Funding
The authors are grateful to world Bank funded Project; Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project (HP-HDP-Component: Managed Pollination) and All India Coordinated Research Project on Honey bees and Pollinators, ICAR, New Delhi for providing financial assistance to carry out this research. AICRP on Honeybees and Pollinators, World Bank Group (HP-HDP; Managed pollination).
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Conceptualization of research was done by Dr Harish Kumar Sharma, Dr Kiran Rana and Dr Meena Thakur; Experiments were designed by Dr Harish Kumar Sharma and Dr Ruchi Sharma; Data collection and experiments were conducted by Dr Ruchi Sharma, Dr Hema Prasad and Dr Deeksha Sharma, Data analysis and interpretation was done by Dr Ruchi Sharma and reviewing of literature was done by Dr Priyanka Thakur and Ms Diksha Devi; and manuscript was prepared by Dr Ruchi Sharma.
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Sharma, H.K., Sharma, R., Prasad, H. et al. Ethological studies of bumble bee, Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith under low hill conditions in Himachal Pradesh. Int J Trop Insect Sci 44, 669–679 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-024-01190-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-024-01190-z