Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

DIFFERENT CASTES IN BUMBLE BEE, BOMBUS HAEMORRHOIDALIS SMITH

Avinash Chauhan, B.S. Rana and Sapna Katna

Abstract

Life cycle of different castes (queen, workers and drones) of bumble bee, Bombus haemorrhoidalis was studied along with their morphological characters. Bumble bee queens were collected and reared under laboratory conditions for one cycle. These were fed with sucrose (50%) and corbicular pollen. Different development stages were recorded. Eggs were white in colour and rice shaped. The larvae were creamish white and earlier C-shaped and later on became swollen with increase in diet. Adults had yellow bands on the abdomen with black body. Different developmental periods were observed from egg till emergence of adults. Longevity of all castes was also recorded along with the identification characters of different castes.