Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Nov 1, 2017
Neonicotinyl, systemic insecticides are very popular amongst the growers due to their low mammali... more Neonicotinyl, systemic insecticides are very popular amongst the growers due to their low mammalian toxicity and the ability to move systemically into the entire plants, observed to be highly toxic to bees and are well known causal of colony collapse disorder in beekeeping industry throughout the world. In this communication, evaluation of imidacloprid toxicity to assess the risk posed to honey bees in field young worker bees of A. mellifera were carried out using hand operated micro-applicator under laboratory at 25±2 o C and 65±5 relative humidity in Sloan, Himachal Pradesh during august 2017. The toxicological investigations carried out on ten individuals of young, workers of Apis mellifera per replication were topically treated with imidacloprid dose ranged between 0.005 to 0.12 µg/bee. Mortality of bees was data recorded after 24 hours of treatments and subjected to probit analysis. LD50 value worked out to be 0.037 µg/bee with a fiducial limit of 0.019 and 0.068 µg/bee. It was concluded that mortality data in relation to dose was homogeneous, as the determination of acute contact toxicity of imidacloprid is essential at sublethal levels.
, situated at 33.3N° latitude, 70.70 °E longitude and 1256 m above mean sea level (Amsl). The scr... more , situated at 33.3N° latitude, 70.70 °E longitude and 1256 m above mean sea level (Amsl). The scrutiny was under taken to documentation the seasonal incidence of diseases and enemies of A. mellifera under stationary and migratory conditions. The European foulbrood disease infestation array from 0 to 29 per cent in stationary and 1.12 to 4.90 per cent during migratory period. The disease prevalence was assuredly correlated with temperature, colony strength and rainfall. Sac brood disease incidence was evidenced with 8 per cent brood infestation only in the month of April, 2016. The population of ectoparasitic mites i.e. Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps clareae was recorded by three different methods viz. sticky paper, per 100 bees and visual examination. The incidence of V. destructor and T. clareae was observed during summer months when the temperature was high and relative humidity was low under stationary conditions. No mites were remarked during migratory period.
This study was carried out in Nauni, mid hill region of Himachal Pradesh, in 2017 to determine th... more This study was carried out in Nauni, mid hill region of Himachal Pradesh, in 2017 to determine the pollen resources of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. through pollen load analysis. The pollen loads were collected from returning foragers to hives maintained at the university apiary. Pollen analysis of pollen loads of A. mellifera done throughout the year showed the presence of 66 pollen types belonged to 29 botanical families. Major polleniferous plant species that provided homogenous (unifloral) pollen loads
Experiments were conducted during July 2015 to June 2016 on Apis mellifera L. colonies maintained... more Experiments were conducted during July 2015 to June 2016 on Apis mellifera L. colonies maintained at Nauni, Solan, in Himachal Pradesh India. Withthe onset of spring experimental colonies gained strength during February (4.2 bee frames/ colony) and March (4.6 bee frames/ colony) when build up flora was in bloom at Nauni, Solan. Thereafter, colonies increased in their average strength to 6.2 and 6.6 bee frames/ colony during June and May 2016, respectively. Average brood area was significantly higher during May, 2016 (3143.6cm) followed by the average brood area in June (2497.6) and April, 2016. Maxim pollen area (160 cm) was recorded in the month of April, 2016. Average honey stores in A. mellifera kept at Nauni remained poor during the year. Whereas under migratory conditions, the average colony strength (8 bee frames), brood area (5399.2cm) and pollen area (520 cm) increased in March 2016 when honey bees were foraging for nectar and pollen on the Brassica juncea crop at Hisar. To ...
The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different modes of pollination on seed... more The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different modes of pollination on seed set of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in three different sowing dates. The studies were conducted in mustard crop by inducing the plant to flower early or late through different sowing dates. Open mode of pollination was superior to hand pollination and pollinators exclusion. Higher seed set percentage was observed in open pollination (81.89 %) as compared to hand pollination (58.61 %) and pollinator’s exclusion (45.96 %). This shows an increase of 35. 93 and 12.56 per cent seed set under open pollination and hand pollination modes over pollinators exclusion. Delayed sowing of mustard resulted into reduction in the seed set. Highest seed siliqua -1 and 1000-seed weight was obtained in open pollination followed by hand pollination. The minimum seed/ siliqua and 1000 seed weight was observed in case of pollinator’s exclusion. The mean number of seed siliqua -1 and 1000-seed weight did not v...
The present study on brood rearing efficiency was conducted at Katrain in Kullu Valley of Himacha... more The present study on brood rearing efficiency was conducted at Katrain in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India, situated at 32.1 N and 77.2 E longitude with an altitude of 1473 m amsl. The field experiments at Katrain, Kullu showed 20 to 100 per cent variations in per cent brood survival rate during different periods of observation. Studies on brood rearing efficiency revealed that per cent adult emergence on egg basis during the months of March and August averaged to 55.22 and 61.22 respectively. The per cent adult emergence from sealed brood was observed to be 70.08 + 22.86 and 90.20 +0.59 during March and August, 2010-11 respectively. The variations exhibited by the Apis cerana colonies on these two parameters at the same locality during the different periods of observation cannot be accounted for the inherent factors alone.
Survey studies were conducted from six districts (Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Solan, Shimla and Una)... more Survey studies were conducted from six districts (Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Solan, Shimla and Una) of Himachal Pradesh during July 2015 to June 2016 to know the status of rearing of Apis mellifera L. colonies both as stationary and migratory conditions. Callistemon lanceolatus, Eucalyptus spp. Toona ciliate, Rosa moschata, Zizyphus jujuba, Acacia catechu, Aesculus hippocastanum and Trifolium repens etc. are the major honey flow sources of Himachal Pradesh. Sarson (Una, Nalagarh and Solan), eucalyptus (Una and Nalagarh), horse chestnut (Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur) and wild clover (Shimla, Kullu and Mandi) are reported as sources of honey production in the state. Seasonal incidence of brood diseases, ectoparasitic mites and enemies of A. mellifera under stationary and migratory conditions were changing from location to location and place to place. The period of incidence of European foulbrood was different in Kullu (April-May), Solan (May-June) and Sirmaur (June-July) districts. Nosema ...
Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 2018
Apis cerana colonies are attacked by various pseudoscorpians, ants and birds. An understanding of... more Apis cerana colonies are attacked by various pseudoscorpians, ants and birds. An understanding of the incidence periods of different insect pests, diseases, predators and natural enemies on A. cerana colonies is essential for developing effective management strategies for a particular hamlet/niche. Therefore, present investigation was carried out to find out the information regarding different insect pests, diseases, predators and natural enemies of A.
The present investigation was carried out on in vitro mass multiplication, larval feeding capacit... more The present investigation was carried out on in vitro mass multiplication, larval feeding capacity, and pollination efficiency of two aphidophagous syrphidsviz.,Eupeodes frequens(Matsmura) andEpisyrphus balteatus(De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicaeL.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on mustard crop under mid hill conditions. The results revealed that the incubation, larval, and pupal periods were 3.5, 12.4, and 11.9 days, respectively forE. frequensand 3.8, 13.7, and 8.8 days, forE. balteatus. Longevity of male and female was 15.2 and 17.6 days forE. frequensand 10.6 and 12.6 days forE. balteatus, respectively. When the adults were fed on different diets, adult longevity and fecundity recorded significantly maximum on 10% honey solution + fresh pollen grains.E. frequensconsumed an average of 261.7 individuals of cabbage aphids per larva during total larval period, whereas the larva ofE. balteatusconsumed 393.6 cabbage aphids. The pollination efficiency of ho...
The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of mode of pollination on fruit set a... more The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of mode of pollination on fruit set and quality of sweet cherry at Beekeeping Horticulture Research Sub Station, Katrain and in private orchard at village Dobhi, district Kullu, Himachal Pradesh during 2014-2015. The experiment was laid down in randomized block design (RBD) factorial and different modes of pollination viz., bee pollination, open pollination, hand pollination and controlled pollination were practised. The experimental results revealed that bee pollination (70.95 %) was equally superior to open (63.47 %) and hand pollination (70.35 %). No fruits were obtained from the flowers caged before flowering indicating that cherry requires insect pollination for fruit set. Besides this, the effect of different modes of pollination on fruit quality revealed that there was no difference in width, length, TSS, weight and volume of fruits under open and bee pollination. Further, one colony per hectare is recommended for orchards planted in such areas, where natural insect population including A. cerana is abundant, suggesting that area like Katrain, Kullu, HP surrounded by natural habitat and with rich floral diversity is providing natural habitat for different insect pollinators.
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes app... more Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes approximately 250 species all over the world, out of which 48 species are found in India. Bumble bees are effective pollinators with high pollination efficiency and increasing demand of pollination services has highlighted the concept of commercialization of these pollinators. They generally have an annual life cycle with three castes viz., queen, workers and drones; only the queen undergoes diapause during winters. The oviposition rate and colony initiation percentage of the bumble bees are affected by different factors viz., foundation queen, feed, hygienic conditions, nesting material and environmental conditions. Amongst these, nesting material as well as feeding methods are the most important factors that affect the success rate and queen acceptance. Hence, it is very important to know which nesting material and feed is highly accepted by queens for colony initiation and development. The present review summarizes the literature about different domiciles and feed used for invitro rearing of bumble bees and their effect on colony development.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021
Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally ackno... more Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally acknowledged, most important managed pollinators that also provide honey production. In recent years, neonicotinoids are widely used against a broad spectrum sucking pests. However, they also pose a major threat to the beekeeping industry. The present study aimed to quantify the impact of thiamethoxam, a second-generation, broad-spectrum neonicotinoid on foraging behavior, colony performance, and survival of Apis mellifera L. in mustard crop under semi-field (cage) and field conditions. Under semi-field conditions, the foraging activity of A. mellifera on mustard bloom reduced significantly on the 2nd day after spray of thiamethoxam as compared to pre-count and control. Significant decrease in brood area (7th to 21st day), nectar stores (7th to 28th day), and pollen stores (7th to 21st day) were also recorded after the spray. The bee mortality under semi-field conditions was significantly higher on the 1st and 2nd day after spray in comparison to control. Under field conditions, average bee activity remained statistically low up to the 12th day after spray on mustard bloom in comparison to pre-count and control. The effect of thiamethoxam under field conditions was less pronounced for bee mortality and colony parameters. Based on LD 50 , thiamethoxam was proved toxic to adults and larvae of A. mellifera .
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes app... more Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes approximately 250 species all over the world, out of which 48 species are found in India. Bumble bees are effective pollinators with high pollination efficiency and increasing demand of pollination services has highlighted the concept of commercialization of these pollinators. They generally have an annual life cycle with three castes viz., queen, workers and drones; only the queen undergoes diapause during winters. The oviposition rate and colony initiation percentage of the bumble bees are affected by different factors viz., foundation queen, feed, hygienic conditions, nesting material and environmental conditions. Amongst these, nesting material as well as feeding methods are the most important factors that affect the success rate and queen acceptance. Hence, it is very important to know which nesting material and feed is highly accepted by queens for colony initiation and development. The present review summarizes the literature about different domiciles and feed used for invitro rearing of bumble bees and their effect on colony development.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021
Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally ackno... more Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally acknowledged, most important managed pollinators that also provide honey production. In recent years, neonicotinoids are widely used against a broad spectrum sucking pests. However, they also pose a major threat to the beekeeping industry. The present study aimed to quantify the impact of thiamethoxam, a second-generation, broad-spectrum neonicotinoid on foraging behavior, colony performance, and survival of Apis mellifera L. in mustard crop under semi-field (cage) and field conditions. Under semi-field conditions, the foraging activity of A. mellifera on mustard bloom reduced significantly on the 2nd day after spray of thiamethoxam as compared to pre-count and control. Significant decrease in brood area (7th to 21st day), nectar stores (7th to 28th day), and pollen stores (7th to 21st day) were also recorded after the spray. The bee mortality under semi-field conditions was significantly higher on the 1st and 2nd day after spray in comparison to control. Under field conditions, average bee activity remained statistically low up to the 12th day after spray on mustard bloom in comparison to pre-count and control. The effect of thiamethoxam under field conditions was less pronounced for bee mortality and colony parameters. Based on LD50, thiamethoxam was proved toxic to adults and larvae of A. mellifera.
Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Nov 1, 2017
Neonicotinyl, systemic insecticides are very popular amongst the growers due to their low mammali... more Neonicotinyl, systemic insecticides are very popular amongst the growers due to their low mammalian toxicity and the ability to move systemically into the entire plants, observed to be highly toxic to bees and are well known causal of colony collapse disorder in beekeeping industry throughout the world. In this communication, evaluation of imidacloprid toxicity to assess the risk posed to honey bees in field young worker bees of A. mellifera were carried out using hand operated micro-applicator under laboratory at 25±2 o C and 65±5 relative humidity in Sloan, Himachal Pradesh during august 2017. The toxicological investigations carried out on ten individuals of young, workers of Apis mellifera per replication were topically treated with imidacloprid dose ranged between 0.005 to 0.12 µg/bee. Mortality of bees was data recorded after 24 hours of treatments and subjected to probit analysis. LD50 value worked out to be 0.037 µg/bee with a fiducial limit of 0.019 and 0.068 µg/bee. It was concluded that mortality data in relation to dose was homogeneous, as the determination of acute contact toxicity of imidacloprid is essential at sublethal levels.
, situated at 33.3N° latitude, 70.70 °E longitude and 1256 m above mean sea level (Amsl). The scr... more , situated at 33.3N° latitude, 70.70 °E longitude and 1256 m above mean sea level (Amsl). The scrutiny was under taken to documentation the seasonal incidence of diseases and enemies of A. mellifera under stationary and migratory conditions. The European foulbrood disease infestation array from 0 to 29 per cent in stationary and 1.12 to 4.90 per cent during migratory period. The disease prevalence was assuredly correlated with temperature, colony strength and rainfall. Sac brood disease incidence was evidenced with 8 per cent brood infestation only in the month of April, 2016. The population of ectoparasitic mites i.e. Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps clareae was recorded by three different methods viz. sticky paper, per 100 bees and visual examination. The incidence of V. destructor and T. clareae was observed during summer months when the temperature was high and relative humidity was low under stationary conditions. No mites were remarked during migratory period.
This study was carried out in Nauni, mid hill region of Himachal Pradesh, in 2017 to determine th... more This study was carried out in Nauni, mid hill region of Himachal Pradesh, in 2017 to determine the pollen resources of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. through pollen load analysis. The pollen loads were collected from returning foragers to hives maintained at the university apiary. Pollen analysis of pollen loads of A. mellifera done throughout the year showed the presence of 66 pollen types belonged to 29 botanical families. Major polleniferous plant species that provided homogenous (unifloral) pollen loads
Experiments were conducted during July 2015 to June 2016 on Apis mellifera L. colonies maintained... more Experiments were conducted during July 2015 to June 2016 on Apis mellifera L. colonies maintained at Nauni, Solan, in Himachal Pradesh India. Withthe onset of spring experimental colonies gained strength during February (4.2 bee frames/ colony) and March (4.6 bee frames/ colony) when build up flora was in bloom at Nauni, Solan. Thereafter, colonies increased in their average strength to 6.2 and 6.6 bee frames/ colony during June and May 2016, respectively. Average brood area was significantly higher during May, 2016 (3143.6cm) followed by the average brood area in June (2497.6) and April, 2016. Maxim pollen area (160 cm) was recorded in the month of April, 2016. Average honey stores in A. mellifera kept at Nauni remained poor during the year. Whereas under migratory conditions, the average colony strength (8 bee frames), brood area (5399.2cm) and pollen area (520 cm) increased in March 2016 when honey bees were foraging for nectar and pollen on the Brassica juncea crop at Hisar. To ...
The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different modes of pollination on seed... more The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different modes of pollination on seed set of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in three different sowing dates. The studies were conducted in mustard crop by inducing the plant to flower early or late through different sowing dates. Open mode of pollination was superior to hand pollination and pollinators exclusion. Higher seed set percentage was observed in open pollination (81.89 %) as compared to hand pollination (58.61 %) and pollinator’s exclusion (45.96 %). This shows an increase of 35. 93 and 12.56 per cent seed set under open pollination and hand pollination modes over pollinators exclusion. Delayed sowing of mustard resulted into reduction in the seed set. Highest seed siliqua -1 and 1000-seed weight was obtained in open pollination followed by hand pollination. The minimum seed/ siliqua and 1000 seed weight was observed in case of pollinator’s exclusion. The mean number of seed siliqua -1 and 1000-seed weight did not v...
The present study on brood rearing efficiency was conducted at Katrain in Kullu Valley of Himacha... more The present study on brood rearing efficiency was conducted at Katrain in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India, situated at 32.1 N and 77.2 E longitude with an altitude of 1473 m amsl. The field experiments at Katrain, Kullu showed 20 to 100 per cent variations in per cent brood survival rate during different periods of observation. Studies on brood rearing efficiency revealed that per cent adult emergence on egg basis during the months of March and August averaged to 55.22 and 61.22 respectively. The per cent adult emergence from sealed brood was observed to be 70.08 + 22.86 and 90.20 +0.59 during March and August, 2010-11 respectively. The variations exhibited by the Apis cerana colonies on these two parameters at the same locality during the different periods of observation cannot be accounted for the inherent factors alone.
Survey studies were conducted from six districts (Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Solan, Shimla and Una)... more Survey studies were conducted from six districts (Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Solan, Shimla and Una) of Himachal Pradesh during July 2015 to June 2016 to know the status of rearing of Apis mellifera L. colonies both as stationary and migratory conditions. Callistemon lanceolatus, Eucalyptus spp. Toona ciliate, Rosa moschata, Zizyphus jujuba, Acacia catechu, Aesculus hippocastanum and Trifolium repens etc. are the major honey flow sources of Himachal Pradesh. Sarson (Una, Nalagarh and Solan), eucalyptus (Una and Nalagarh), horse chestnut (Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur) and wild clover (Shimla, Kullu and Mandi) are reported as sources of honey production in the state. Seasonal incidence of brood diseases, ectoparasitic mites and enemies of A. mellifera under stationary and migratory conditions were changing from location to location and place to place. The period of incidence of European foulbrood was different in Kullu (April-May), Solan (May-June) and Sirmaur (June-July) districts. Nosema ...
Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 2018
Apis cerana colonies are attacked by various pseudoscorpians, ants and birds. An understanding of... more Apis cerana colonies are attacked by various pseudoscorpians, ants and birds. An understanding of the incidence periods of different insect pests, diseases, predators and natural enemies on A. cerana colonies is essential for developing effective management strategies for a particular hamlet/niche. Therefore, present investigation was carried out to find out the information regarding different insect pests, diseases, predators and natural enemies of A.
The present investigation was carried out on in vitro mass multiplication, larval feeding capacit... more The present investigation was carried out on in vitro mass multiplication, larval feeding capacity, and pollination efficiency of two aphidophagous syrphidsviz.,Eupeodes frequens(Matsmura) andEpisyrphus balteatus(De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicaeL.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on mustard crop under mid hill conditions. The results revealed that the incubation, larval, and pupal periods were 3.5, 12.4, and 11.9 days, respectively forE. frequensand 3.8, 13.7, and 8.8 days, forE. balteatus. Longevity of male and female was 15.2 and 17.6 days forE. frequensand 10.6 and 12.6 days forE. balteatus, respectively. When the adults were fed on different diets, adult longevity and fecundity recorded significantly maximum on 10% honey solution + fresh pollen grains.E. frequensconsumed an average of 261.7 individuals of cabbage aphids per larva during total larval period, whereas the larva ofE. balteatusconsumed 393.6 cabbage aphids. The pollination efficiency of ho...
The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of mode of pollination on fruit set a... more The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of mode of pollination on fruit set and quality of sweet cherry at Beekeeping Horticulture Research Sub Station, Katrain and in private orchard at village Dobhi, district Kullu, Himachal Pradesh during 2014-2015. The experiment was laid down in randomized block design (RBD) factorial and different modes of pollination viz., bee pollination, open pollination, hand pollination and controlled pollination were practised. The experimental results revealed that bee pollination (70.95 %) was equally superior to open (63.47 %) and hand pollination (70.35 %). No fruits were obtained from the flowers caged before flowering indicating that cherry requires insect pollination for fruit set. Besides this, the effect of different modes of pollination on fruit quality revealed that there was no difference in width, length, TSS, weight and volume of fruits under open and bee pollination. Further, one colony per hectare is recommended for orchards planted in such areas, where natural insect population including A. cerana is abundant, suggesting that area like Katrain, Kullu, HP surrounded by natural habitat and with rich floral diversity is providing natural habitat for different insect pollinators.
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes app... more Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes approximately 250 species all over the world, out of which 48 species are found in India. Bumble bees are effective pollinators with high pollination efficiency and increasing demand of pollination services has highlighted the concept of commercialization of these pollinators. They generally have an annual life cycle with three castes viz., queen, workers and drones; only the queen undergoes diapause during winters. The oviposition rate and colony initiation percentage of the bumble bees are affected by different factors viz., foundation queen, feed, hygienic conditions, nesting material and environmental conditions. Amongst these, nesting material as well as feeding methods are the most important factors that affect the success rate and queen acceptance. Hence, it is very important to know which nesting material and feed is highly accepted by queens for colony initiation and development. The present review summarizes the literature about different domiciles and feed used for invitro rearing of bumble bees and their effect on colony development.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021
Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally ackno... more Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally acknowledged, most important managed pollinators that also provide honey production. In recent years, neonicotinoids are widely used against a broad spectrum sucking pests. However, they also pose a major threat to the beekeeping industry. The present study aimed to quantify the impact of thiamethoxam, a second-generation, broad-spectrum neonicotinoid on foraging behavior, colony performance, and survival of Apis mellifera L. in mustard crop under semi-field (cage) and field conditions. Under semi-field conditions, the foraging activity of A. mellifera on mustard bloom reduced significantly on the 2nd day after spray of thiamethoxam as compared to pre-count and control. Significant decrease in brood area (7th to 21st day), nectar stores (7th to 28th day), and pollen stores (7th to 21st day) were also recorded after the spray. The bee mortality under semi-field conditions was significantly higher on the 1st and 2nd day after spray in comparison to control. Under field conditions, average bee activity remained statistically low up to the 12th day after spray on mustard bloom in comparison to pre-count and control. The effect of thiamethoxam under field conditions was less pronounced for bee mortality and colony parameters. Based on LD 50 , thiamethoxam was proved toxic to adults and larvae of A. mellifera .
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2021
Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes app... more Bumble bees belong to the genus Bombus, order Hymenoptera and family Bombidae, which includes approximately 250 species all over the world, out of which 48 species are found in India. Bumble bees are effective pollinators with high pollination efficiency and increasing demand of pollination services has highlighted the concept of commercialization of these pollinators. They generally have an annual life cycle with three castes viz., queen, workers and drones; only the queen undergoes diapause during winters. The oviposition rate and colony initiation percentage of the bumble bees are affected by different factors viz., foundation queen, feed, hygienic conditions, nesting material and environmental conditions. Amongst these, nesting material as well as feeding methods are the most important factors that affect the success rate and queen acceptance. Hence, it is very important to know which nesting material and feed is highly accepted by queens for colony initiation and development. The present review summarizes the literature about different domiciles and feed used for invitro rearing of bumble bees and their effect on colony development.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021
Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally ackno... more Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally acknowledged, most important managed pollinators that also provide honey production. In recent years, neonicotinoids are widely used against a broad spectrum sucking pests. However, they also pose a major threat to the beekeeping industry. The present study aimed to quantify the impact of thiamethoxam, a second-generation, broad-spectrum neonicotinoid on foraging behavior, colony performance, and survival of Apis mellifera L. in mustard crop under semi-field (cage) and field conditions. Under semi-field conditions, the foraging activity of A. mellifera on mustard bloom reduced significantly on the 2nd day after spray of thiamethoxam as compared to pre-count and control. Significant decrease in brood area (7th to 21st day), nectar stores (7th to 28th day), and pollen stores (7th to 21st day) were also recorded after the spray. The bee mortality under semi-field conditions was significantly higher on the 1st and 2nd day after spray in comparison to control. Under field conditions, average bee activity remained statistically low up to the 12th day after spray on mustard bloom in comparison to pre-count and control. The effect of thiamethoxam under field conditions was less pronounced for bee mortality and colony parameters. Based on LD50, thiamethoxam was proved toxic to adults and larvae of A. mellifera.
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