Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LX
Written by Ayhan GOSTERIT, Gizem OYTUN CICEK
The effects of vitamin additive diets on colony foundation success in Bombus terrestris were investigated in this experiment. A total of 120 artificially hibernated queens were used. Queens were randomly divided to four groups (30 queens for each group). Queens and their colonies were fed with different diets: standard sugar syrup and normal pollen (group 1), vitamin additive sugar syrup and normal pollen (group 2), standard sugar syrup and vitamin additive pollen (group 3) vitamin additive sugar syrup and vitamin additive pollen (group 4). No significant differences were found in egg laying and colony foundation ratio of queens among the experimental groups. However, vitamin addition to pollen or sugar syrup negatively affected the marketable colony production ratio. Marketable colony production ratios of queens were found 60.00%, 26.66%, 53.33%and 45.00% in four groups, respectively. While feeding with vitamin additive diet affected colony initiation time, other traits such as timing of first worker emergence, timing of gyne (young queen) production, timing of switch point and timing of competition point was not affected. Total numbers of individuals produced in colonies were also determined. Significant differences were found only in terms of total number of young queens (gynes) among the groups, but not total number of workers and males. Results showed that feeding with vitamin additive diet has not positive effect on colony development traits in B. terrestris.
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