LIFECYCLE OF SHRILL CARDER BEE
(BOMBUS SYLVARUM)
Figure 8.0 Bombus Sylvarum
Queen is quite large with a size of about 16-18 mm long. She either nests underground that is previously owned by other organisms or builds her own nest above ground. She only emerges from its nest at the end of April. The queen regains energy by searching for nectar in late blooming spring flowers.
While feeding, she looks for a suitable nest. At the entrance of her nest, she forms a honey pot using secreted wax. The queen then fills the honey pot with nectar in a way to store food reserves in case of bad weather. After which, she brings pollen back to her nest, mixing it with nectar to make a ball in the middle of the nest. The queen will then lay about 6 to 12 eggs in the honey pot.
After 3 to 5 days, eggs will hatch. While the larvae are feeding, the queen incubates the nest by sitting on them. A thin spot on the queen bee’s abdomen allows her to transmit heat to the larvae, keeping them warm.
8 days after hatching, the larvae are separated from one another and forms a cocoon.
About 19 to 22 days after the eggs are laid, the first offspring will emerge from the cocoon. This batch of bees are infertile female workers and they tend to be smaller than the queen. They perform all sorts of duties, except laying eggs.
The queen continues to lay more eggs and stops flying out of the nest. The worker bees will take over her job of collecting pollen and nectar. When the second batch of eggs hatches, the population in the colony increases, therefore, more space is required. These batch of bees tend to be larger than the first generation of bees (female workers). The expansion of nest can be done by pressing the nest material outward and gluing the back with a layer of wax and propolis.
A waxy covering with holes are built to allow temperature in the nest to remain constant of about 30 to 32°C, which is normally higher than the temperature outside.
The nest is defended by guards at the entrance of the nest.
The queen also lays eggs that hatch into male bees. Males hatch in summer and emerge from the unfertilized eggs. When the males leave the nest, they never return. Once they leave, it marks the end of the life cycle where all the bees in the colony, including the queen, die and are left to decay.
The mature male bees live in flowers and look for queen bees of the same species to mate. They repeatedly fly over the same flowers leaving scent marks (pheromones) to attract females. When a queen is spotted, the male will mate with her. Once mated, the new queen will then look for a suitable overwintering site in a hole underground and spends the time hibernating throughout winter.
While feeding, she looks for a suitable nest. At the entrance of her nest, she forms a honey pot using secreted wax. The queen then fills the honey pot with nectar in a way to store food reserves in case of bad weather. After which, she brings pollen back to her nest, mixing it with nectar to make a ball in the middle of the nest. The queen will then lay about 6 to 12 eggs in the honey pot.
After 3 to 5 days, eggs will hatch. While the larvae are feeding, the queen incubates the nest by sitting on them. A thin spot on the queen bee’s abdomen allows her to transmit heat to the larvae, keeping them warm.
8 days after hatching, the larvae are separated from one another and forms a cocoon.
About 19 to 22 days after the eggs are laid, the first offspring will emerge from the cocoon. This batch of bees are infertile female workers and they tend to be smaller than the queen. They perform all sorts of duties, except laying eggs.
The queen continues to lay more eggs and stops flying out of the nest. The worker bees will take over her job of collecting pollen and nectar. When the second batch of eggs hatches, the population in the colony increases, therefore, more space is required. These batch of bees tend to be larger than the first generation of bees (female workers). The expansion of nest can be done by pressing the nest material outward and gluing the back with a layer of wax and propolis.
A waxy covering with holes are built to allow temperature in the nest to remain constant of about 30 to 32°C, which is normally higher than the temperature outside.
The nest is defended by guards at the entrance of the nest.
The queen also lays eggs that hatch into male bees. Males hatch in summer and emerge from the unfertilized eggs. When the males leave the nest, they never return. Once they leave, it marks the end of the life cycle where all the bees in the colony, including the queen, die and are left to decay.
The mature male bees live in flowers and look for queen bees of the same species to mate. They repeatedly fly over the same flowers leaving scent marks (pheromones) to attract females. When a queen is spotted, the male will mate with her. Once mated, the new queen will then look for a suitable overwintering site in a hole underground and spends the time hibernating throughout winter.