An Update on the Distribution and Diversity of Bombus in Nebraska (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Effects of variable retention logging in the boreal forest on the bumble bee-influenced pollination community, evaluated 8–9 years post-logging

“…Conversion of traditional bumble bee habitat for agricultural uses has caused declines in both bumble bees and bumble beevisited plants (Biesmeijer et al, 2006;Carvell et al, 2006;Golick and Ellis, 2006;Kosior et al, 2007;Goulson et al, 2008). Bumble bees forage in forests (Williams, 1988;Kreyer et al, 2004), but little is known of the effect of logging on bumble bees (but see Cartar, 2005).…”

Decline and Conservation of Bumble Bees

“…The most severely affected species tend to be those with long tongues associated with deep perennial flowers (40) There are no equivalent baseline data for bumblebees in North America and there is debate as to whether or not they are suffering similar long-term declines. For example, Golick and Ellis (33) found little variation in the Nebraska bumblebee fauna between 1962 and 2000.…”

First report of Aphelinus semiflavus Howard, 1908 (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in Brazil

“…Characteristics that may limit abundance and effectiveness of the introduced strain of A. semiflavus as a parasite of aphids include little, if any flight by the adults, and death of the offspring when in competition with Aphidiine parasites inside an aphid (Shands et al, 1965) Aphelinus semiflavus spend five to eight days from egg to mummy (temperature mean of 26 °C) and required another six to nine days in the cocoon before adult emergence, the feeding of the adult parasite in the aphid nymphs results in immediate death of the nymphs. (Manglitz and Schalk, 1970). The longevity of females ranges from 18 to 19.6 days and the fecundity of 281-311 eggs (Mackauer, 1982).…”