Queen Weight Research Articles

CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE PARÂMETROS BIOMÉTRICOS E PRODUTIVOS EM COLÔNIAS DE Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides LEPELETIER (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)

In meliponini colonies, biometric characteristics may be associated with production traits, thus the study of correlations is extremely useful as a tool for colony selection process. The aim of this study was to estimate the correlations between biometric and productive parameters of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides. We analyzed 128 colonies, from 60 parental and two generations, F1 and F2. The following parameters were evaluated: queen and colony weight; number, length and width of brood disks; number, width, depth and volume of honey pots; number, width and depth of pollen pots; glossa size, and estimate of the population and honey production. The queen weight was correlated with the number of brood disks (0.23) and population (0.23), as well as the characteristic number of pollen pots is related to the length and width of brood disks and population (0.88, 0.54 and 0.52, respectively). The characteristic honey production is related to the number (0.93), width (0.50) and volume (0.47) of honey pots. The results showed that honey production is directly correlated with number, volume, width and depth of honey pots. On the other side, the population size was correlated with the number of brood disks and pollen pots.

Influência do ambiente no desenvolvimento de colônias iniciais de formigas cortadeiras (Atta sexdens rubropilosa)

Anualmente, as colônias maduras de Atta spp. produzem formigas aladas, machos e fêmeas, que abandonam a colônia na qual foram produzidas para formarem novas colônias e, dessa forma, continuarem a perpetuação da espécie. A fundação de colônias de Atta spp. sempre envolve grande esforço da rainha, única responsável pelo cultivo do fungo e pelos cuidados consigo mesma e com sua prole. Nesse período de fundação ocorre o consumo de grande parte de suas reservas. O presente estudo investigou como o ambiente influencia o desenvolvimento das colônias recém-fundadas de Atta sexdens rubropilosa. Para tanto, foram comparadas colônias de campo coletadas cinco meses após a revoada e colônias mantidas em laboratório desde o voo nupcial. Foram analisados o peso e o tamanho da população (número de operárias, de larvas, de pupas e de ovos), o tamanho das operárias, o volume e peso do jardim de fungo e o esforço para a fundação dos ninhos (teor de lipídeos e peso das rainhas). Comparadas às colônias de campo, as colônias de laboratório apresentaram maiores valores no tamanho e no peso da população, no volume e no peso do jardim de fungo. As medidas das operárias, por classe de tamanho, não variaram entre as colônias de campo e de laboratório. O esforço da fundação dos ninhos foi maior nas colônias de campo, cujas rainhas apresentaram menor porcentagem de lipídeos e menor peso em relação às colônias de laboratório. Esses resultados demonstram que o ambiente exerce forte influência no desenvolvimento das colônias durante a fase de fundação, bem como sobre o status fisiológico das rainhas, sendo, portanto, a sobrevivência, o desenvolvimento e o sucesso da colônia reflexos das condições do ambiente e do esforço da rainha.

Esforço de escavação e teor de lipídios em rainhas da formiga cortadeira Atta sexdens rubropilosa

As formigas cortadeiras, importantes pragas agrícolas, anualmente realizam a fundação de novas colônias. Para o início de novas colônias, é preciso a escavação de túneis e de câmaras no solo, sendo que, para isso, as rainhas recém fecundadas gastam muita energia, no entanto a quantificação dessa energia gasta é desconhecida. Nossa hipótese é que a reserva lipídica, armazenada no corpo da rainha, seja utilizada durante a escavação do ninho. Testamos essa hipótese comparando o aumento do esforço de escavação das rainhas, as quais foram experimentalmente estimuladas a escavar uma, duas ou três vezes consecutivas, em relação ao controle, ou seja, em relação às rainhas que não escavaram. Foram quantificados a massa corporal e o teor de lipídios das rainhas. Os resultados mostraram que, ao contrário de nossas expectativas iniciais, massa e teor de lípideos não foram afetadas pelo aumento do esforço de escavação do ninho. Conclui-se que a escavação pelas rainhas não afetou os percentuais de lipídios em seu corpo, consequentemente, o conteúdo de energia. Provavelmente, os recursos energéticos para a escavação não se originam de fontes lipídicas, mas de outros, provavelmente carboidratos.

Parâmetros biométricos e produtivos de colônias em gerações de Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides

This study aimed to analyze biometric parameters and productive stingless bee colonies mandacaia (Melipona quadrifasciata anthi-dioides) in consecutive generations. Sixty colonies from different regions of Bahia state were transferred to INPA boxes model. After 90 to 100 days the colonies were evaluated and divided, forming the first and later the second generation. In every generation the colony biometric measurement were evaluated (brood, honey and pollen pots), queen and glossa workers morphometry. The weight of physogastric queen and length of the glossa did not differ between generations. There were differences for the number of brood disks and between honey and pollen characteristics, with variability between generations. Thus biometric and productive parameters studied were directly influenced by environmental factors. However in subsequent generations the colonies showed environment adaptation demonstrating variability that can be exploited

Successful transmission of Solenopsis invicta virus 3 to Solenopsis invicta fire ant colonies in oil, sugar, and cricket bait formulations

Tests were conducted to evaluate whether Solenopsis invicta virus 3 (SINV-3) could be delivered in various bait formulations to fire ant colonies and measure the corresponding colony health changes associated with virus infection in Solenopsis invicta. Three bait formulations (10% sugar solution, cricket paste, and soybean oil adsorbed to defatted corn grit) effectively transmitted SINV-3 infections to S. invicta colonies. Correspondingly, viral infection was shown to be detrimental to colony health and productivity. By day 32, all ant colonies exposed to a single 24h pulse treatment of SINV-3 became infected with the virus regardless of the bait formulation. However, the SINV-3 sugar and cricket bait-treated colonies became infected more rapidly than the oil-treated colonies. Sugar and cricket-treated colonies exhibited significant declines in their brood ratings compared with the untreated control and oil bait-treated colonies. Measures of colony health and productivity evaluated at the end of the study (day 47) showed a number of differences among the bait treatments and the control group. Statistically significant and similar patterns were exhibited among treatments for the quantity of live workers (lower), live brood (lower), total colony weight (lower), worker mortality (higher), proportion larvae (lower), and queen weight (lower). Significant changes were also observed in the number of eggs laid by queens (lower) and the corresponding ovary rating in SINV-3-treated colonies. The study provides the first successful demonstration of SINV-3 as a potential biopesticide against fire ants.

Correlation of queen size and spermathecal contents and effects of miticide exposure during development

Normal mating of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queens and drones results in extreme polyandry. Larger queens are reported to produce more brood, but do they also store more semen? Measurements of queen weight, spermatheca weight and volume, and numbers of sperm in the spermatheca were made on normally reared queens and queens exposed to miticide from early larval stage to emergence. In the normally reared group, larger queens had more sperm in spermathecae of greater volume and weight. The presence of miticide during queen development skewed the relationship of queen weight to spermatheca size and the number of sperm stored such that they were not correlated. This sublethal effect of miticide in the colony has an unknown impact on queen performance.

Caste Composition and Mound Size of the Subterranean Termite Macrotermes gilvus (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae)

Abstract The colony size and caste composition of different-sized Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) mounds on Penang Island, Malaysia, were studied. The total number of termite individuals differed significantly among different-sized mounds. Small mounds contained 15,400 ± 600 (n = 3) individuals; medium mounds contained 33,500 ± 2,400 (n = 3) individuals; and large mounds contained 61,400 ± 4,400 (n = 3) individuals. Larvae constituted the largest proportion (42.60%) of the total population, followed by workers (42.19%), soldiers (14.16%), presoldiers (0.71%), and alates (0.34%). Population parameters (i.e., total population, total adult apterous caste, and total juvenile apterous caste) were positively and significantly correlated with mound size (e.g., mound height and mound diameter) and queen weight. Significant correlations also were found between mound parameters and queen weight. The sex ratio of alates was significantly skewed toward females in five of seven colonies. Of 44 colonies surveyed, 13.6% were polygynous and 11.4% were polyandrous. The degree of physogastry of female reproductives in polygynous colonies was lower than that in monogynous colonies. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the mean weight of male reproductives between monoandrous and polyandrous colonies.

Live Weight of Queen Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L.) Predicts Reproductive Characteristics

The study was conducted to determine the effects of queen body weight at emergence on the mating ratio, acceptance of the mated queens by the queenless colonies, onset of oviposition, diameter of spermathecae, the number of spermatozoa in the spermathecae, and the egg-laying rate of the queens.The queens were categorized in three groups; Heavy (207.63 ± 0.95 mg), Medium (193.47 ± 0.96 mg) and Light (175.00 ± 0. 62 mg) according to weight at the emergence. Acceptance rates in heavy, medium and light queen groups were 93.33%, 86.66% and 66.66%; average mating ratios were 93.3%, 90.0% and 83.3%; and the onset of oviposition was 8.5, 8.8 and 9.8 days after emergence, respectively. The diameters of spermathecae and the numbers of spermatozoa in the spermathecae were 1.25, 1.06, 0.86 mm; and 5.2, 4.8 and 4.2 million respectively. The amounts of brood area, 30 days after the onset of oviposition were 6605.2 ± 63.6, 5571.3 ± 90.3 and 4520.2 ± 58.3 cm2 in the colonies headed by the heavy, medium and light queens. Statistically important correlations were found between queen weight and the diameter of the spermatheca (r = 0.98), the number of spermatozoa in the spermatheca (r = 0.97) and egg-laying rate of the queens (r = 0.90).

Weight at emergence of honey bee (Apis mellifera caucasica) queens and its effect on live weights at the pre and post mating periods

SummaryFifty queens weighed at emergence were allocated into three groups as: light (under 190 mg); moderate (between 190–200 mg); heavy (over 200 mg), and introduced into Kirchainer mating nuclei. The queens were then weighed at ages ranging from three to 40 days and the intervals between emergence, mating and onset of oviposition were determined. The weight of ovaries, size of spermathecae, and number of spermatozoa in the spermathecae were also measured by dissecting queens one month after they started oviposition.The weight at emergence did not affect behavioural features of reproduction such as the time from emergence to mating flight and to onset of oviposition (P > 0.05). The weight of queens at emergence was, however, highly significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with the weights three days after emergence (r = 0.572), at the onset of oviposition (r = 0.440), three days after the onset of oviposition (r = 0.562), and one month after the onset of oviposition (r = 0.808). The highest correlation was found between the weights at emergence and one month after the onset of oviposition. Highly significant correlations also occurred between the weight at emergence and the diameter (r = 0.619), and the volume of spermatheca (r = 0.607). No correlation was found between the weight at emergence and the fresh and dry weight of ovaries in queens about 40 days old (one month after the onset of oviposition). This is explained by the number and maturation stage of eggs, which depend upon the colony condition. Discriminant analysis applied to data from all characters reallocated 89.5% of the queens to their pre assigned weight groups.

Queen fecundity and reproductive skew in the termite Nasutitermes corniger

A major goal of studies on social animals is to understand variation in reproduction within and between groups. We used hierarchical regressions to analyze oviposition rates in the neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger, a species with both monogynous and polygynous colonies. Queen fecundity was a non-linear, saturating function of queen weight. Greater queen weight was associated with larger nest size and with lower numbers of queens per nest, suggesting competition among queens for resources acquired by the colony. The collective egglaying rate of pairs of queens exceeded that of single queens, but further increases in queen number did not raise total fecundity. Skew in oviposition rates, as quantified by Morisita’s index Iδ, averaged 1.2, indicating inequalities in reproductive rates that are only moderately greater than expected for random apportionment. The leveling off of oviposition with increasing queen weight suggests that it is costly for individual females to produce eggs at high rates, which could favor tolerance of reproduction by other females, reducing reproductive skew. We hypothesize that the incentive to tolerate reproduction by other females is especially pronounced for heavier queens, because these queens are close to the limit of their own reproductive capacity. Consistent with this hypothesis, skew in oviposition rates was inversely related to the mean weight of queens within a nest.

Effects of Larvae Transfer Conditions on Queen Bee Productivity

Dodologlu, A. and Emsen, B. 2007. Effects of larvae transfer conditions on queen bee productivity. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 31: 181–182. In this study, the Doolittle method was used to examine the effects of transfer conditions (a tent, a caravan and a hygienic grafting room) of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae on queen bee productivity. The higher larvae acceptance rate was obtained in the hygienic grafting room. Also better results for the heights of sealed queen cells, queen weights and shortest pre-oviposition period based on grafted larvae were observed in the same transfer room. The hygienic grafting room is suggested to rear high quality queen bees.

Effects of Rearing Period and Grafting Method on the Queen Bee Rearing

Gene, F., Emsen, B. and Dodologlu, A. 2005. Effects of rearing period and grafting method on the queen bee rearing. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 27: 45–48. The effect of three grafting methods, addition of royal jelly (A), dry grafting (B) and grafting with addition of water (C) and three months of summer in June, July and August, on queen bee rearing were investigated. The highest larvae acceptance rates were observed by dry grafting in July and grafting with addition of royal jelly in July and August. The height of queen cell was highest by the use of royal jelly in June and August. The shortest pre-oviposition period was observed by addition of royal jelly in July and by other two methods in June, July. Mating rate, number of spermatozoa, spermatheca diameter and emergence queen weight were not affected by treatments. More studies are suggested before any definite recommendation could be made.

Comparison of Some Characteristics of Queen Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) Reared by Using Doolittle Method and Natural Queen Cells

Dodologlu, A., Emsen, B. and Gene, F. 2004. Comparison of some characteristics of queen honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) reared by using doolittle method and natural queen cells. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 26: 113–115. This study was conducted to examine some characteristics of queen bees raised by using Doolittle method and natural queen cells in Erzurum conditions. The average lengths of the sealed queen cells, queen weights at emergence, diameters of spermatheca and numbers of spermatozoid were higher in case of honey bees reared by Doolittle method as compared to natural queen cell method. However, the differences between the two methods regarding pre-oviposition period were not significant. It is concluded that queen bees reared by grafting method (Doolittle method) were superior to queen bees reared by using natural queen cells.

Influence of queen weight and colony origin on worker response in Solenopsis geminata

. The influence of weight and colony origin of the queen of Solenopsis geminata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on worker attraction is studied under laboratory conditions. In the first experiment, worker response to individual queens of different weight from the same colony is evaluated. Heavier queens are more attractive than smaller queens to their own workers. In subsequent experiments, the colony origin effect is investigated and worker response to a pair of queens of the same weight from the same or different colonies is compared. When queens are from the same colony, workers do not show a significant preference between queens. However, when queens are from a different colony, workers are significantly more attracted to their own queen than to the foreign queen. Finally, the response of workers to queens of different weight from the same or different colonies is investigated. In both cases, workers are significantly more attracted to a heavier queen than a lighter queen, even if the lighter queen is their own queen. A putative pheromonal component (E)-6-(1-pentenyl)-2H-2-pyranone, is not positively correlated with queen weight.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHENOTYPE, MATING BEHAVIOR, AND FITNESS OF QUEENS IN THE ANT LASIUS NIGER

Considerable attention has focused on why females of many species mate with several males. For social hymenopteran insects, efforts have primarily concentrated on determining whether multiple mating increases colony performance due to the increased genetic diversity. Most of these studies are correlative because it is difficult or impossible to experimentally mate queens in most species. Thus, the positive associations found between multiple paternity and colony fitness in some cases may not be due to direct effects of genetic diversity but could, in theory, arise from high-quality queens having more mates. Here we show that in the ant Lasius niger variation in the number of matings covaries with queen phenotype. Young queens that were heavier at the time of the mating flight were significantly more likely to mate with several males. As a result, heavier queens stored more sperm. The initial weight of queens was significantly associated with the probability of surviving mating flights during the two years of the study, with queens of intermediate weight having the highest across-year survival. Queen initial weight was also significantly and positively associated with the quantity of brood at the time of the first worker eclosion as well as colony productivity at the time of hibernation. By contrast, there was little evidence for a positive effect of the number of matings on colony performance when the effect of mate number and queen initial weight were considered simultaneously.

Comparison of Some Features of Queens Reared from Different Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Genotypes

Dodologlu, A. and Gene, F. 2003. Comparison of some features of queens reared from different honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) genotypes. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 24:105–109. Four groups of queens were reared by Doolittle method from Caucasian and Anatolian honeybees and their crossbreds using artificial insemination. The yield of grafting, period up to pre-oviposition, queen weights in the pre- and post-oviposition periods were analyzed and compared. The inseminated larvae of each genotype were equally accepted. The queens from the pure- breed Anatolian genotype began oviposition later than Caucasian queens and differences among the groups in terms of pre- and post-oviposition weights of the queens were not significant.

Hazards of insecticides to the bumble bees Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) foraging on flowering white clover in turf.

Insecticides used on turf are sometimes applied to areas with flowering weeds that attract honey bees and native pollinators. We tested residual effects of such treatments on colony vitality and behavior of the bumble bees Bombus impatiens Cresson foraging on turf containingwhite clover, Trifolium repens L. Imidacloprid, a syst emic chloronicotinyl used for preventive control of root-feeding grubs, was applied as granules, followed by irrigation, or sprayed as a wettable powder, with or without irrigation. Hives were confined on the plots in large field cages after residues had dried and colony vitality (i.e., numbers of brood, workers, and honey pots, and weights of queens, workers, and whole colonies with hives) was evaluated after 28-30 d. Workers' foraging activity and defensive response to an aggressive stimulus also were evaluated. In another test, weedy turf was sprayed with chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, or cyfluthrin at labeled rates for surface-feeding pests. Bee colonies were confined on the plots after residues had dried, with effects on colony vitality evaluated after 14 d. Finally, foraging activity of wild bumble bees was monitored on open plots to determine if insecticide-treated areas were avoided. Imidacloprid granules, and imidacloprid sprays applied with posttreatment irrigation, had no effect on colony vitality or workers' behavior, suggesting that such treatments pose little systemic or residual hazard to bumble bees. In contrast, exposure to dry nonirrigated residues of all of the aforementioned insecticides had severe impact on colony vitality. Foraging workers did not avoid insecticide-treated areas. Means by which turf managers can reduce hazards of insecticide applications to pollinators are discussed.

Effects of fluvalinate and coumaphos on queen honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in two commercial queen rearing operations.

We conducted research on the potential impacts of fluvalinate and coumaphos on honey bee, Apis mellifera L., queen viability and health. Queens were reared in colonies that had been treated with differing amounts of both fluvalinate and coumaphos. Pre- and posttreatment samples of both wax and bees were collected from all of the colonies and analyzed for total concentrations of fluvalinate and coumaphos. All queens were measured for queen weight, ovarial weight, and number of sperm in the spermathecae. The queens treated with high doses of fluvalinate weighed significantly less than low-dose or control queens, but otherwise appeared to develop normally. The highest fluvalinate concentrations were observed in the wax and queen cells of the high-dose group. The developing queens in colonies treated with as little as one coumaphos-impregnated strip for more than 24 h suffered a high mortality rate. Several of the queens showed sublethal effects from the coumaphos, including physical abnormalities and atypical behavior. The queens exposed to coumaphos weighed significantly less and had lower ovary weights than the control group queens. The highest coumaphos concentrations were observed in the queen cells and wax of the high-dose groups.

Flexibility of first brood production in a claustral ant, Camponotus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The numbers of first-batch eggs and workers (minims) in a carpenter ant Camponotus japonicus are not fixed but are regulated in response to various internal and external factors of founding queens. The initial body weight of founding queens was positively correlated with the number of minims. The amount of queen weight loss during the founding period was highly correlated with the number of minims. The numbers of first-batch eggs and minims for artificially fed queens were significantly greater than those for control group queens and for unfed queens, respectively. The number of eggs laid by a queen increased when eggs deposited in the early stage of founding were removed. In contrast, artificial addition of alien eggs reduced the number of eggs laid by a queen. The adaptive implications of this flexibility in the production of the first-batch brood in C. japonicus are discussed.

Use of Diatomaceous Earth and Entomopathogen Combinations against the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Thelohania solenopsae Knell, Allen, & Hazard is a common intracellular pathogen of fire ants, Solenopsis spp., in South America and was recently discovered in the USA (Williams et al. 1998). Williams & Oi (1998) found that infected S. invicta Buren colonies produced smaller worker populations and decreased queen weights compared to uninfected colonies. This protozoan alone will not solve the S. invicta problem in the USA but could be used with other biological agents, natural products, or insecticides in a fire ant IPM program. The LC50 for Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was 4.5x higher for workers from healthy colonies than for workers from T solenopsae-infected colonies (Brinkman & Gardner 2000). Stimac et al. (1993) combined diatomaceous earth (DE) with B. bassiana in tests against S. invicta, but further studies are needed. The objective of the research reported herein was to determine the interaction of DE with either T solenopsae or B. bassiana against fire ant workers. Solenopsis invicta colonies infected with T solenopsae were originally obtained from USDA ARS CMAVE, Gainesville, FL. Healthy colonies were collected from a pasture located 8 km northwest of Griffin, GA. These colonies were tested to confirm presence or absence of T solenopsae by using procedures of Williams et al. (1998). Sixtytwo percent of workers from the T solenopsaeinfected colonies possessed octet stage spores. Thelohania solenopsae was not detected in workers from local colonies. Test arenas were 35-ml clear plastic cups containing dental plaster (1/4 volume of cup) and Fluon? (Northern Products Inc., Woonsocket, RI 02898) coated on the inside walls. The treatments tested on workers from healthy colonies were untreated controls, DE alone, B. bassiana, and B. bassiana + DE. Workers from T solenopsae-infected colonies were treated with DE. Untreated workers were kept as controls. BotaniGard? ES (Mycotech Corp., Butte, MT 59701) was pipetted in cups on the surface of the dental plaster at a rate of 2.4 x 106 B. bassiana CFUs per cm2. Cups that were treated with DE each received 0.1 g of Celite 5450 (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA 15275). Ten ants were placed in each cup. Honey was provided as a food source, and cups were placed on wet foam. A hole in the bottom of each cup allowed the dental plaster to maintain moisture. Mortality was checked daily for 10 d. Treatments were replicated 10 times in a randomized complete block design with repeated measures. Analysis of data was with the PROC MIXED procedure (Littell et al. 1996); means were separated by LSD (ue = 0.05). At 10 d after exposure, mortality of healthy workers exposed to DE alone was 29% (Fig. 1). Arthur (2000) reported that insect mortality is directly related to DE exposure interval and Stimac et al. ( 1993) observed almost twice this level of mortality of fire ants after 22-30 d of exposure to DE. The mortality of ants from T. solenopsaeinfected colonies that were exposed to DE was significantly (F = 46.44; df = 5,9; P = 0.000 1) higher than observed with other treatments with 89'tk dead by 10 d after exposure. Although this mortality was subadditive ( Cossentine & Lewis 1984), it was relatively high. According to Cossentine & Lewis (1L984), mortality is subadditive