Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge

Bumblebees are primary social insects and a vital class of pollinating insects. Their distinctive reproductive mode is characterized by the independent initiation and construction of the nest by the queen and the subsequent production of sufficient workers, males, and gynes following colony developm...

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Main Authors: Xiaomeng Zhao, Jingxin Jiang, Zilin Pang, Weihua Ma, Yusuo Jiang, Yanfang Fu, Yanjie Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/654
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author Xiaomeng Zhao
Jingxin Jiang
Zilin Pang
Weihua Ma
Yusuo Jiang
Yanfang Fu
Yanjie Liu
author_facet Xiaomeng Zhao
Jingxin Jiang
Zilin Pang
Weihua Ma
Yusuo Jiang
Yanfang Fu
Yanjie Liu
author_sort Xiaomeng Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Bumblebees are primary social insects and a vital class of pollinating insects. Their distinctive reproductive mode is characterized by the independent initiation and construction of the nest by the queen and the subsequent production of sufficient workers, males, and gynes following colony development. After successful mating, the queen transitions to the first phase of its annual life cycle. The reproductive processes are directly influenced by environmental factors, including floral resources and pesticides. Moreover, the reproductive level is regulated by biological factors, particularly the role of workers, who participate in egg laying and pass on their genetic material to the next generation of queens. Successful reproduction can only be achieved by maintaining colony development under natural or artificial breeding conditions. Consequently, understanding the known factors that influence bumblebee reproduction is essential for developing conservation strategies for wild bumblebees and for successfully breeding diverse bumblebee species. Breeding various bumblebee species is crucial for in-depth research into known factors and for further exploration of other potential factors, which will also help to meet the demand for pollination in agricultural facilities globally.
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issn 2075-4450
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publishDate 2024-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Insects
spelling doaj-art-471f6a6f74754ea9b2f643b84d740fa52025-08-20T01:55:33ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-08-0115965410.3390/insects15090654Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current KnowledgeXiaomeng Zhao0Jingxin Jiang1Zilin Pang2Weihua Ma3Yusuo Jiang4Yanfang Fu5Yanjie Liu6College of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, ChinaHeBei Provincial Animal Husbandry Station, Shijiazhuang 050035, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, ChinaBumblebees are primary social insects and a vital class of pollinating insects. Their distinctive reproductive mode is characterized by the independent initiation and construction of the nest by the queen and the subsequent production of sufficient workers, males, and gynes following colony development. After successful mating, the queen transitions to the first phase of its annual life cycle. The reproductive processes are directly influenced by environmental factors, including floral resources and pesticides. Moreover, the reproductive level is regulated by biological factors, particularly the role of workers, who participate in egg laying and pass on their genetic material to the next generation of queens. Successful reproduction can only be achieved by maintaining colony development under natural or artificial breeding conditions. Consequently, understanding the known factors that influence bumblebee reproduction is essential for developing conservation strategies for wild bumblebees and for successfully breeding diverse bumblebee species. Breeding various bumblebee species is crucial for in-depth research into known factors and for further exploration of other potential factors, which will also help to meet the demand for pollination in agricultural facilities globally.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/654wild bumblebeereproductioncolony developmentbreeding
spellingShingle Xiaomeng Zhao
Jingxin Jiang
Zilin Pang
Weihua Ma
Yusuo Jiang
Yanfang Fu
Yanjie Liu
Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge
Insects
wild bumblebee
reproduction
colony development
breeding
title Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge
title_full Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge
title_fullStr Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge
title_full_unstemmed Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge
title_short Tracking Existing Factors Directly Affecting the Reproduction of Bumblebees: Current Knowledge
title_sort tracking existing factors directly affecting the reproduction of bumblebees current knowledge
topic wild bumblebee
reproduction
colony development
breeding
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/654
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AT weihuama trackingexistingfactorsdirectlyaffectingthereproductionofbumblebeescurrentknowledge
AT yusuojiang trackingexistingfactorsdirectlyaffectingthereproductionofbumblebeescurrentknowledge
AT yanfangfu trackingexistingfactorsdirectlyaffectingthereproductionofbumblebeescurrentknowledge
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