بررسی اثر تغذیه در دیاپوز بر زنبور‌ Bombos terrestris

Bumblebees are important pollinators in nature and greenhouse crops. Additionally, they are used as carriers of microbial agents for the biological control of pests and plant diseases. The highest mortality rate of queens, both in nature and in the laboratory, occurs during the diapause stage. This study was conducted with the aim of increasing the survival probability of queens during the diapause period. After successful mating, the queens were divided into three weight categories: less than 0.6 grams, between 0.6 and 0.8 grams, and more than 0.8 grams. Queens weighing less than 0.6 grams are usually not tested due to their failure to exit diapause and death during this period, which eliminates some queens that do not have the chance of survival and colony establishment. The diapause period lasted for two months at a temperature of 5±2 degrees Celsius, humidity of 60±10 percent, in a wood chip bed. Each weight group was randomly divided into three categories. One category of queens from each weight group was selected as a control, one category was fed with distilled water, and one category was fed with a 1:1 sugar-water solution (weight:volume). Every two weeks, all queens were taken out of the refrigerator for half an hour and subjected to the relevant test. After two months and exiting diapause, the survival rate of each category was examined. From the weight category below 0.6 grams, only a few queens fed with the sugar-water solution survived. In the weight category between 0.6 and 0.8 grams, the number of individuals exposed to the sugar-water solution also had higher survival rates.