Males from multiple colonies improve queen mating success in the bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

Mating is an important process in bumblebees that could affect queen diapause survival and offspring reproduction. Both queens and males could influence mating failure. Here, we used the indigenous bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis to evaluate the mating interactions of males and gynes. The effects of kin recognition and males and gynes from multiple colonies on mating latency, mating duration, and the mating success rate were investigated. The results showed that gynes mated with related males had a longer mating latency than those mated with unrelated males (42.88 ± 3.8 min and 24.15 ± 2.5 min, respectively, P < 0.05) and that the mating success rate was significantly higher in unrelated groups than in related groups (49.29 ± 4.1% and 36.74 ± 2.6%, respectively, P < 0.05). However, no preference for related or unrelated males was observed in the mixed mating groups (mating success rate 30.63 ± 3.1% and 30.73 ± 2.4%, respectively, P > 0.05). Interestingly, the occurrence of males from multiple sources significantly increased the mating success rate (one colony 39.1 ± 4.2% to four colonies 60.05 ± 5.7%, P < 0.05). Nonetheless, an increase in the number of gyne sources had no effect on the mating success rate (one colony 39.50 ± 4.9% to four colonies 43.52 ± 5.7%, P > 0.05). Mating latency was significantly more influenced by males and gynes from multiple colonies than by kin relationship, male number, and gyne number (P < 0.05). In conclusion, there is no evidence that the bumblebee B. lantschouensis can recognize kin relationships before mating. The presence of males and gynes from multiple colonies can influence mating latency. Moreover, males from multiple colonies can significantly enhance mating success, which has implications for bumblebee ecological conservation and artificial mass rearing.