Abstract
The gut of bumblebees harbors bacteria that play a crucial role in physiology, nutrition, and health. The mating rate is important for the reproductive activity of a colony; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between mating and gut bacteria. In this study, bacterial functions were identified in the intestinal tract of bumblebees, and biochemical identification and screening were performed using genetic detection technology. By isolating and identifying bacteria, we obtained a single strain and fed it to queens. The results indicated that Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus are present in the gut. The queen mating rates were 48.89% at the period of 4 days and higher than 28.89% mating rates of the control group (P < 0.05), and the latency time were 16.90 min (from entering the mating cage to mating success) and decreased than control (P < 0.05) which was 28.20 min. This finding confirmed that Bacillus was important in Bombus terrestris mating.
Highlights
Bumblebees are important pollinators in natural and agricultural ecosystems, as well as playing a significant role in maintaining plant diversity and ecological balance (Gallai, 2009; Williams, 2009)
For TSB-11, VP, and gelatin were positive whereas starch hydrolysis, lecithin and nitrate were negative, results identical to that for Bacillus pumilus
We isolated Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus from the whole guts of bumblebees. These bacteria have different growth characteristics as well different physiological and biochemical responses. This result proves that the intestinal flora exerts different functions on the host caused by various bacteria
Summary
Bumblebees are important pollinators in natural and agricultural ecosystems, as well as playing a significant role in maintaining plant diversity and ecological balance (Gallai, 2009; Williams, 2009). Their potential economic value has been recognized for a long time. Some bumblebees have become commercially bred species, notably for greenhouse pollination of many crops (Velthuis & van Doorn, 2006; Dasgan et al, 2004). Chinese native bumblebees (post hibernating queens) have been reared in the laboratory for scientific studies of social behavior, biology and pollination since 1996, and remarkable progress of Bumblebees rearing techniques and pollination in greenhouses has been made (An, 2010).
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