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WORKER-MALE CONFLICT AND INBREEDING IN BUMBLE BEES (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

R.C. Plowright  and
M.J. Pallett
R.C. Plowright
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1
M.J. Pallett
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1
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Abstract

Worker-male conflict in different bumble bee species is strongly associated with tendency, toward inbreeding. It is hypothesized that the major cost imposed by inbreeding arises from the production of diploid males in place of workers, during the early phases of colony development. The consequent dilution of the labour force slows down colony growth and leads to ultimate reduction in reproductive success. An experiment to test this hypothesis is described, using consanguineously mated queens of B. atratus Fkln. Colonies yielding a 1:1 mixture of males and workers grew significantly more slowly than normal all-worker producing colonies, providing support for the hypothesis.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 111 , Issue 3 , March 1979 , pp. 289 - 294
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1979

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