No influence of male origin on mating characteristics and queen survival in Bombus terrestris

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the mating characteristics and diapause performances of queens mated with queen-born males (QMs) and worker-born males (WMs) in Bombus terrestris colonies. Using laboratory-reared colonies, mating latency, copulation duration, and queen mating preferences were analyzed for both QM and WM groups. Results showed no significant differences in mating latency and copulation duration between the two male groups. However, WMs were slightly heavier than QMs during the mating process (t = -2.02, P = 0.044). Despite these weight differences, the mating success rates of QMs and WMs were comparable, with queens showing no significant preference for either group. Additionally, the survival rates of queens during diapause were unaffected by whether they mated with QMs or WMs. This research suggests that the source of males in B. terrestris colonies does not influence mating success or queen survival, providing valuable insights for bumblebee breeding and colony management.