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Ambient air temperature does not predict body size of foragers in bumble bees (Bombus impatiens)

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posted on 2023-06-08, 09:45 authored by Margaret Couvillon, Ginny Fitzpatrick, Anna Dornhaus
Bumble bees are important pollinators of crops and other plants. However, many aspects of their basic biology remain relatively unexplored. For example, one important and unusual natural history feature in bumble bees is the massive size variation seen between workers of the same nest. This size polymorphism may be an adaptation for division of labor, colony economics, or be nonadaptive. It was also suggested that perhaps this variation allows for niche specialization in workers foraging at different temperatures: larger bees might be better suited to forage at cooler temperatures and smaller bees might be better suited to forage at warmer temperatures. This we tested here using a large, enclosed growth chamber, where we were able to regulate the ambient temperature.We found no significant effect of ambient or nest temperature on the average size of bees flying to and foraging from a suspended feeder. Instead, bees of all sizes successfully flew and foraged between 16C and 36C. Thus, large bees foraged even at very hot temperatures, which we thought might cause overheating. Size variation therefore could not be explained in terms of niche specialization for foragers at different temperatures

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Psyche

ISSN

0033-2615

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Volume

2010

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2012-11-30

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2012-11-30

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