Optimal Timing and Duration of Cold Application for Breaking Diapause in Queens of the Bumblebee Bombus ignitus

Abstract

Bumblebees are important pollinators of crops and wildflowers. The Korean native bumblebee, Bombus ignitus, undergoes one generation per year, and induction of artificial hibernation is essential for year-round rearing of the bumblebee. Keeping queens under cold treatment conditions for several mo is an effective method for terminating their diapause and promoting colony development. In the present study, we investigated how the timing and duration of chilling affect the artificial hibernation of B. ignitus queens. In the timing assessment, cold treatment was instituted at 12 d, 40 d, or 100 d after eclosion under a constant temperature of and 80% humidity. The queens that entered cold treatment at 12 d after emergence evidenced the highest survival rates: 86.7% at two mo, 73.3% at three mo, and 46.4% at 4 mo. Survival rates were reduced under storage conditions at 12 d, 40 d, and 100 d after emergence. When queens were subjected to chilling at 8 d, 12 d, or 16 d after eclosion with constant 80% humidity, the queens stored at 12 d after eclosion exhibited the highest survival rates, which were 84.6 at one mo, 25.0% at two mo, and 7.9% at three mo. In regards to the duration of the cold period, the queens that hibernated for at least two mo evidenced optimal colony development rates. The rates of oviposition, colony foundation, and progeny-queen production of queens hibernated for two mo were 60.0%, 30.0%, and 13.3%, respectively. These values were 6.0 to 13.3 times higher than those in the queens that hibernated for 15 d. Therefore, a cold period of at least 2 mo applied 12 d after emergence were found to be the most favorable conditions for diapause break in B. ignitus queens.