Possible bivoltine development of several bumblebee species in Europe

Abstract

This article is devoted to an analysis of possible bivoltine development of several bumblebee species in Europe. This study is based on materials collected by the authors in European countries (Slovakia, France and Greece) and in the European North of Russia (Solovetsky Archipelago). Four bumblebee species were studied. They are Bombushortorum, B.terrestris, B.pratorum and B.jonellus. Bombushortorum was collected from south-eastern Slovakia and southern France, B.terrestris was additionally from the Isle of Crete, B.pratorum was from southern France and the Solovetsky Archipelago, and B.jonellus was collected only on the Solovetsky Archipelago. Our records reveal that several bumblebee species may have two generations per season. Bombushortorum and B.pratorum in south-eastern Slovakia and southern France had males present in late May. Both these species have a short life cycle, so they are potentially able to produce two generations in a season. Bombusterrestris was found in January on southern France and in Late November in the Isle of Crete. Because this species has no obligate diapause, this fact may indicate bivoltine development for B.terrestris in the studied territories. The potential ability of B.jonellus to produce two generations per season was revealed during long-term research on the Solovetsky Archipelago.