Monitoring of parasites in bumblebee colonies developed from controlled nesting of wild queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus)

Bumblebees (Apidae: Bombus spp.) are a major group of wild and domesticated bees that provide crucial ecosystem services through wildflower crop pollination. However, most bee populations, including bumblebees, declining worldwide, partly because parasite spill-over spill-back between bumblebee commercial colonies populations. Breeders have to cope with invasions by vast array bumblebees’ parasites, techniques need be developed prevent such support breeders Our 10-year study is based on 327 nests seven species (B. humilis, B. hypnorum, lapidarius, lucorum, pascuorum, sylvarum, terrestris) reared in outdoor boxes. Some boxes were equipped parasite-preventing techniques, namely (i) an airlock (n = 2) or (ii) additional chamber natural fragrances 74). We recorded the invasion wax moth Aphomia sociella, eulophid Melittobia acasta cuckoo bumblebees subgenus Psithyrus spp. Overall, 8.26 %, 1.53 % 3.67 invaded A. M. spp., respectively, without coinfection. Neither nor prevented sociella infestation. Despite no nest was we lacked replicates properly demonstrate efficiency these techniques. Nest inspection remains time-consuming but powerful technique reduce artificial spoilage yet it inefficient against tiny invaders (< 1 mm) left unnoticed. therefore encourage further studies actively seek for mitigate towards