Article
Biology
Marcel Ethan Sayre, Rachel Templin, Johanna Chavez, Julian Kempenaers, Stanley Heinze
Summary: While bees and fruit flies share similarities in their central complex, there are also key functional differences that may impact their navigational abilities.
Article
Biology
Cheng Sun, Aibing Zhang, Jinfeng Chen, Sarah Schaack
Summary: Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that play a major role in genome evolution and have phenotypic impacts. Recent studies suggest that TEs are the main contributor to genome size variation and are involved in the formation of new coding and regulatory sequences in bumblebees. Future research using advanced technologies will help uncover the functions and contributions of TEs in bumblebee biology.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yakai Tian, Jiyao Liu, Feng He, Jiaxing Huang, Jie Wu, Shaoyu He
Summary: The study found that IRP30 regulates worker egg-laying by affecting the expression of Vg, the size of the ovary and the formation of the oocyte. These findings provide essential information for understanding the mechanisms underlying worker reproductive regulation.
Article
Entomology
Mengnan Shi, Kun Dong, Jie Wu, Jiaxing Huang
Summary: Low temperature acclimation can increase lipid accumulation in bumble bee queens during prediapause and reduce their consumption of protein, lipids, and total sugars during diapause.
Article
Ecology
Sebastiaan Verbeke, Margaux Boeraeve, Sebastien Carpentier, Hans Jacquemyn, Maria I. Pozo
Summary: The decline of pollinators may have negative effects on ecosystems and ecosystem services. This study investigates the impact of pollen diversity and composition on reproductive success and fitness of Bombus terrestris colonies. The results suggest that plant diversity may not be a good predictor of colony fitness, and that vegetation composition and differences in pollen quantity and quality are more important.
Article
Ecology
Emily J. Bailes, Jake Moscrop, Sarah Mitchell, Matthew Dorling, Tom Wood, Jane Thomas, Beverley J. Glover
Summary: Adaptations that attract pollinators to flowers are crucial for the reproductive success of plants. In this study, we found substantial variation in flower traits among different lines of Vicia faba and demonstrated the preference of Bombus terrestris for certain traits such as petal spot size and corolla-tube length. These findings have important implications for increasing pollinator attraction to V. faba crops.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Craig D. Perl, Zanna B. Johansen, Zahra Moradinour, Marie Guiraud, C. E. Restrepo, Vun Wen Jie, A. Miettinen, Emily Baird
Summary: Heatwaves have detrimental impacts on animal morphology and behavior, especially during development. This study tested the effects of exposure to elevated temperatures during the late development stage on the behavior and morphology of adult worker bumblebees. The results showed that exposure to high temperatures during a portion of late development impaired the initial behavioral responses of workers to sensory stimuli, but did not significantly impact body or organ size.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Cristina Botias, Julia C. Jones, Tobias Pamminger, Ignasi Bartomeus, William O. H. Hughes, Dave Goulson
Summary: Bumblebees exposed to combinations of stressors, including pesticides and pathogens, exhibit detrimental effects on individual and colony health, leading to reduced food collection, colony growth, and brood production. Understanding the interactions between different stressors is crucial for managing bee populations and maintaining pollination services in the future.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco E. Fonturbel, Isidora B. Sepulveda, Giselle Muschett, Gaston O. Carvallo, Lorena Vieli, Maureen M. Murua
Summary: Invasive species are a significant driver of worldwide biodiversity loss. This study examines the associations between bumblebees and native and exotic plant species in Chile, particularly focusing on flower color preferences. The findings suggest that exotic bumblebee species primarily visit flowers of exotic plants and show preferences for purple and pink flowers, while native bumblebees visit both native and exotic plant species in similar proportions and have preferences for white, pink, and purple flowers.
Article
Entomology
Yan Liu, Ruijuan Wang, Long Su, Shan Zhao, Xiaoyan Dai, Hao Chen, Guang'an Wu, Hao Zhou, Li Zheng, Yifan Zhai
Summary: Bombus terrestris is a vital pollinator for agricultural production, and the decline in its population due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use is a major concern. Artificial breeding of bumblebees is significant and has great market prospects. This study used proteomics and phosphoproteomics to investigate the mechanisms of diapause in different stages, providing valuable insights into the regulation of diapause in B. terrestris for year-round mass breeding.
Article
Entomology
Yakai Tian, Yingping Qu, Kun Dong, Shaoyu He, Wu Jie, Jiaxing Huang
Summary: This study examined the expression patterns of four hexamerin genes in different worker development stages and queen diapause statuses in bumble bees. The results showed that hex 110 has the longest ORF and different hexamerins exhibit varying expression levels at different developmental stages and diapause statuses. Hexamerins may play important roles in queen diapause and metamorphosis of larval and pupal stages.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Alex F. Hart, Kevin Maebe, Gordon Brown, Guy Smagghe, Thomas Ings
Summary: The study investigated whether the increase in bivoltinism in UK resident B. terrestris audax populations was related to introgression with imported foreign subspecies, and found no introgression with commercial subspecies detected in wild populations.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Luke Hill, Maxence Gerard, Frida Hildebrandt, Emily Baird
Summary: Eusocial insect colonies can improve their ability to buffer anthropogenic stressors, but this effect can be influenced by factors that reduce colony size. The impact of a sudden change in group size on individual behavior within the colony is still unclear. This study showed that the associative learning capabilities of bumblebee workers were not affected by drastic reductions in colony size, indicating their resilience to this kind of change.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Baodi Guo, Jiao Tang, Guiling Ding, Shibonage K. Mashilingi, Jiaxing Huang, Jiandong An
Summary: In this study, the gut microbiota of workers and queens in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris at different developmental stages were explored using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The results showed significant differences in morphological indices and gut microbiota composition between workers and queens at different developmental stages. Age was also found to significantly affect the microbial alpha diversity. The findings suggest that the 5th instar larval stage can be used to judge the morphology of workers or queens in bumble bees, and key microbes may be involved in regulating phenotypic variations.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yueqin Guo, Fugang Liu, Yulong Guo, Yingping Qu, Zhengyi Zhang, Jun Yao, Jin Xu, Jilian Li
Summary: This study compares the changes in structure and metabolites in the fat body of mated and virgin bumblebee queens. The results show that the fat body weight of mated queens increases and the adipocytes are filled with lipid droplets. Using mass spectrometry analysis, differential metabolites in the fat body of mated and virgin bumblebee queens are identified. The size and fusion of lipid droplets in the fat body of mated queens are increased, potentially storing more energy and nutrients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)