臺灣產精選熊蜂與楚南熊蜂之生物學研究

Abstract

本研究以精選熊蜂 (Bombus eximius Smith) 及楚南熊蜂 (Bombus sonani (Frison)) 兩種台灣本土種熊蜂，在室內環境下進行飼養，研究蜂群發展過程的生物學特性，並比較其差異性。於2007年至2008年間，共採集53隻的精選熊蜂創始蜂后及37隻的楚南熊蜂創始蜂后進行室內飼養與觀察。精選熊蜂蜂后需要比較長的時間適應室內飼養環境才開始產卵。精選熊蜂的工蜂、雄蜂與蜂后之發育時間各為32、36與44天，楚南熊蜂則為各為27、30與36天，精選熊蜂每個階級所需發育天數明顯多於楚南熊蜂。精選熊蜂族群數量較楚南熊蜂大，蜂群可產生之工蜂數量達63 - 271隻，而楚南熊蜂為21 - 68隻。在室內飼養環境下，精選熊蜂蜂后每次在卵杯內可產下4 - 6個卵；而楚南熊蜂每個卵杯內只有2 - 3個卵。蜂群成長過程中精選熊蜂的QP (queen production point) 時間點在SP (switch point) 之前，而且在 Phase 3 就開始產下雌性有性個體的卵；而楚南熊蜂產下雌性有性個體的卵則是在 Phase 2與 Phase 3。精選熊蜂的蜂群發展時間明顯比楚南熊蜂長，因為在Phase 3的期間，精選熊蜂培育較多的工蜂個體。屬於台灣特有種的楚南熊蜂的分布是屬於溫帶型種類，而分布於低海拔至中高海拔的精選熊蜂是屬於適應亞熱帶氣候之種類。精選熊蜂蜂群發育及活動季節從每年9 - 10月至隔年4 - 5月；而楚南熊蜂則為4 - 8月。室內飼養的環境下，兩種熊蜂的產卵率，成群率以及新蜂后交尾率相當接近；比較兩種熊蜂的各項蜂群發展生物學特性，精選熊蜂較具有商業授粉之潛力。

Two bumblebee species, Bombus eximius Smith and B. sonani (Frison) were reared artificially to investigate the characteristics of colony development under laboratory conditions in Taiwan. A total of 53 queens of B. eximius Smith and 37 of B. sonani (Frison) were collected from the fields during 2007 and 2008. B. eximius Smith has a longer period for colony initiation, immatural stages in each caste, and a larger colony size (63 – 271 workers) than B. sonani (Frison) (21 – 68 workers). Under the laboratory conditions, queen of B. eximius Smith laid 4 – 6 eggs in each eggcup, while B. sonani (Frison) laid 2 – 3 eggs. The queen production point (QP) of B. eximius Smith started before the switch point (SP), and the queen production eggs were laid in Phase 3. However, queen production eggs of B. sonani (Frison) were probably laid during the Phase 2 and Phase 3. It is found that B. eximius Smith has a longer period of colony development than B. sonani (Frison), and the main difference between the two species was the number of third worker brood during the Phase 3. In the field, the endemic species of B. sonani (Frison) is considered to adapt to the temperate climate, while B. eximius Smith is to subtropical climate in Taiwan. The colony development and seasonal occurrence of B. eximius Smith is expected to be from September/October to April or later, and B. sonani (Frison) is from April to August or later. The results showed no differences between the two species in the queen nesting rate, successful colonization rate, successful mating rate of laboratory-reared queens, and egg laying rate of laboratory-reared queens under the laboratory reared conditions. We strongly suggested that B. eximius Smith shares great merits in pollination programs of commercial utilization, while B. sonani (Frison) can only serve as a substitute species for pollinations in Taiwan.