FIRST RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL REARING OF BOMBUS TUNICATUS SMITH : A LAB SETTING IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIANeha Negi and Kiran RanaAbstract Nowadays, due to agricultural modernization, the habitats crucial for the survival of animals and plants have significantly deteriorated. Meadows and pastures have largely disappeared, replaced by covered drains instead of ditches. Bumble bees are crucial pollinators for the agriculture sector and wild plants, and provide pollination supports. Bumble bees need confined access to good inhabiting and slumber locations as well as to alternate substenance sources during times when crop plants are not in bloom for them to be effective, though. Bumble bees are efficient pollinators with high pollination efficiency, and the idea of commercializing these pollinators has gained attention due to the rising demand for pollination services. By taking into account, the present study was conducted to explore the suitable rearing method of the new bumble bee species, Bombu stunicatus Smith under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 27±1oC and relative humidity of 65-70 per cent. Spring overwintered bumble bee queens were collected from Nankheri, Shimla (Elevation: 2086 m), and were reared by continuously feeding them with a 50% sucrose solution and fresh pollen pellets. The average period for wax secretion was 19.3±1 days and the mean development period from egg to adult in workers of B. tunicatus was recorded as 31-33 days. This is the first study of B. tunicatus rearing under laboratory conditions for which further development is needed. To establish a commercial source of pollination in the future, it is required to corroborate their potential or identify suitable species and procedures. |