Queen-worker conflict and social parasitism in bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Fisher, Russell S.

doi:10.1016/s0003-3472(87)80159-8

Cited by 42 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The head-rubbing behaviour of the P sylvestris females described in this paper is identical to that described for P citrinus in North America (Fisher, 1983b (Fisher, 1987(Fisher, , 1988 (Fisher, 1987) and B lucorum and P bohemicus (Fisher, 1988 Alford, 1975;Fisher, 1987Fisher, , 1988von Hagen, 1988). Although not observed in the 3 colonies described in the present paper, we tend to assume that egg-eating also took place here.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 78%

“…They were kept in small wooden cages with access to sugar water and pollen for about 3 weeks until they could be introduced into colonies of their hosts. (Fisher, 1987), B agrorum and P campestris (Hoffer, 1889;Fisher 1988) and B lucorum and P bohemicus (Fisher, 1988).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further investigations will be necessary. As we chose colonies of a size which seems to be attractive to P sylvestris females under natural conditions (Küpper andSchwammberger, 1992/1993 (Fisher, 1984 Mauling, a dominance behaviour described for different Psithyrus species (Free and Butler, 1959;Alford, 1975), P ashtoni (Fisher, 1983a(Fisher, , 1987, P vestalis Fisher, 1988), P bohemicus (Fisher, 1988), and P citrinus (Fisher, 1984) was never observed in our colonies. Mauling is also not exhibited by P campestris (Fisher, 1988), and may not be a necessary usurpation behaviour.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Systematic studies have revealed that not only may the interactions between social parasites and their hosts be species-specific (Röseler, 1972; Honk et al, 1981a;Fisher, 1987), but that there may also be differences in the reactions of the hosts according to the age of the colony and the number of workers at the time of the introduction of the parasite (Fisher 1987(Fisher ,1988.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Social parasitism in bumble bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae): observations of Psithyrus sylvestris in Bombus pratorum nests

Küpper

Schwammberger

1995

Apidologie

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary — Females of Psithyrus sylvestris (Lep) were introduced into free foraging colonies of their host Bombus pratorum (L) and interactions of hosts and parasites during the introduction period, and their behaviour during colony development were studied. The reactions of the host bees to the introduction of social parasites in 3 observed colonies ranged from aggressive to non-aggressive behaviour. Psithyrus females cohabited with host bees for several weeks following their introduction. They did not behave aggressively towards either host queens or workers, although they showed a head-rubbing behaviour, which we interpreted as dominance behaviour, possibly related to pheromone transfer. In all the observed colonies, hosts and social parasites reproduced. Host brood was reared to adults only from eggs laid prior to the usurpation by Psithyrus, whereas Bombus eggs were destroyed thereafter. B pratorum queens emerged earlier or at the same time as drones. In contrast, P sylvestris seemed to favour protandry as a reproductive strategy, with an earlier emergence of males than females. The colony with the lowest level of aggressiveness produced the greatest number of Psithyrus reproductives.social parasitism / Psithyrus sylvestris / Bombus pratorum / dominance behaviour / aggressivity INTRODUCTION

show abstract

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Social parasitism in bumble bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae): observations of Psithyrus sylvestris in Bombus pratorum nests

Küpper

Schwammberger

1995

Apidologie

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…(Pyrobombus) hypnorum host workers (Zimma et al, 2003). These parasitic females may also ensure that they secure a colony's reproductive resources by eating the host queen's eggs (Fisher, 1987) and by suppressing the ovarian development of workers (Fisher, 1984;Vergara et al, 2001). However, other species cohabitate with the host queen and do not interfere with worker development (Fisher, 1983b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bumblebee inquilinism in Bombus�(Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris (Hymenoptera, Apidae): behavioural and chemical analyses of host-parasite interactions

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-The bumblebee Bombus sylvestris is an obligate social inquiline of B. pratorum and nestinvading females are known to integrate themselves into host colonies, usually without any aggression. We investigated whether cuticular compounds could be involved in discrimination processes in common bumblebees, and whether they play a role in the social integration of inquilines in host nests. We tested nestmate recognition in B. terrestris workers, and analysed cuticular chemical profiles of hairs taken from allocolonial individuals. Bumblebees belonging to the same colony shared a common odour. Then, we investigated how B. sylvestris females integrated into colonies of natural and non-natural hosts, B. pratorum and B. terrestris, respectively. Inquiline females apparently succeeded in entering a host colony by expressing non-aggressive behaviours and had no chemical signature; subsequently, acquisition of a chemical signature similar to the host colony might facilitate their integration into the host nest.Bombus sylvestris / inquilinism / discrimination process / chemical signature / non-aggressive strategy

show abstract

Propaganda, Crypsis, and Slave-making

Howard

Akre

1995

Chemical Ecology of Insects 2

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Queen-worker conflict and social parasitism in bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Cited by 42 publications

References 16 publications

Social parasitism in bumble bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae): observations of Psithyrus sylvestris in Bombus pratorum nests

Social parasitism in bumble bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae): observations of Psithyrus sylvestris in Bombus pratorum nests

Bumblebee inquilinism in Bombus�(Fernaldaepsithyrus) sylvestris (Hymenoptera, Apidae): behavioural and chemical analyses of host-parasite interactions

Propaganda, Crypsis, and Slave-making

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About