In autumn young queens mate with a male and then go into a state of diapause, usually in a hole in the soil (E Evans et al. 2007). A Bumblebee colony is formed when a hibernating queen awakens and begins her search for pollen, nectar and a nest site. Nest sites vary between Bumblebee species but most choose tunnels in the ground already made by other organisms or tussocks of grass to make their nests (E Evans et al. 2007).
Once a suitable nesting site has been found the queen prepares wax honey pots to store food (regurgitated nectar) in and wax cells to lay eggs in. Wax is excreted from between the segments in her abdomen (Bumblebee.org 2013). After the queen has collected enough pollen she rolls it into a moist ball and then lays her eggs (in groups of four to sixteen) on top of it. The queen then broods the eggs keeping them at around 30 degrees Celsius for up to four days until the eggs hatch (Bumblebee.org 2013).
When the eggs hatch into larvae the cells expand into a clump of brood cells and the larvae are fed on diet of pollen and nectar. The larvae eventually progress through four instars and at the end of the last instar spin a silk cocoon underneath the wax covering of the brood cells (E Evans et al. 2007). Larvae only possess a blind gut so during the larval stage all they do is eat and grow, as they are unable to defecate. When the larvae pupate they use silk spun from glands near their mouth and stored fecal matter to make the cocoon (Bumblebee.org 2013). After the larvae pupate they emerge as adults by chewing their way through the cocoon. These new adult bees usually remain within the hive for 24 hours before they leave to forage and become worker bees (E Evans et al. 2007).
Once a suitable nesting site has been found the queen prepares wax honey pots to store food (regurgitated nectar) in and wax cells to lay eggs in. Wax is excreted from between the segments in her abdomen (Bumblebee.org 2013). After the queen has collected enough pollen she rolls it into a moist ball and then lays her eggs (in groups of four to sixteen) on top of it. The queen then broods the eggs keeping them at around 30 degrees Celsius for up to four days until the eggs hatch (Bumblebee.org 2013).
When the eggs hatch into larvae the cells expand into a clump of brood cells and the larvae are fed on diet of pollen and nectar. The larvae eventually progress through four instars and at the end of the last instar spin a silk cocoon underneath the wax covering of the brood cells (E Evans et al. 2007). Larvae only possess a blind gut so during the larval stage all they do is eat and grow, as they are unable to defecate. When the larvae pupate they use silk spun from glands near their mouth and stored fecal matter to make the cocoon (Bumblebee.org 2013). After the larvae pupate they emerge as adults by chewing their way through the cocoon. These new adult bees usually remain within the hive for 24 hours before they leave to forage and become worker bees (E Evans et al. 2007).
Honeybee stinging a human arm. The stinger detaches from the honeybee after it has stung the human. This will result in the Honeybees death.
After the production of the second group of workers the queen usually remains inside the nest laying eggs and caring for the larvae. Worker bees are all female and their stingers are actually just modified ovipositors (Bumblebee.org 2013). Because Bumblebees have smooth stingers they are able to sting repeatedly without harming themselves. Honeybees, close relatives of the Bumblebee, have jagged stings and thus can only sting once before seriously injuring themselves and usually dying. (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011)
Bumblebee colonies don’t usually produce males (drones) and new queens until later on. Unlike other properly eusocial insects worker bees are not physically sterile so Bumblebees are classified as primitively eusocial. The only reason workers do not lay eggs is because of aggression, the consumption of any worker eggs found and pheromones released from the queen that suppresses their need to reproduce. Male bees are formed from haploid (unfertilized) eggs laid by the queen (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011).
New queens and males leave the nest after maturation, or in the males case are forcible driven out by the workers (Bumblebee.org 2013). After that the males will mate with the new queens and the cycle begins again.
Bumblebee colonies don’t usually produce males (drones) and new queens until later on. Unlike other properly eusocial insects worker bees are not physically sterile so Bumblebees are classified as primitively eusocial. The only reason workers do not lay eggs is because of aggression, the consumption of any worker eggs found and pheromones released from the queen that suppresses their need to reproduce. Male bees are formed from haploid (unfertilized) eggs laid by the queen (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011).
New queens and males leave the nest after maturation, or in the males case are forcible driven out by the workers (Bumblebee.org 2013). After that the males will mate with the new queens and the cycle begins again.
Website created by Catherine Russo 2013