USDA-ARS Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center, Biosciences Research Laboratory, 1605 Albrecht Blvd., Fargo, ND 58105, USA.
J Econ Entomol. 2011 Aug;104(4):1162-6. doi: 10.1603/ec11062.
A significant concern in the commercial application of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), for pollination is synchronizing bee emergence and activity with peak crop bloom. Previous studies have demonstrated that the commercial spring incubation of this species can be successfully interrupted by low temperature incubation, thereby slowing development and giving producers flexibility in timing emergence to weather conditions or crop bloom. In this study, we demonstrate that the implementation of a fluctuating thermal regime, during which bees are given a daily one hour pulse of high temperature, markedly increases the "shelf-life" of individuals of this species. Although constant temperatures can be used to store bees for up to 1 wk with no decrease in survival, properly staged bees can be stored for up to 6 wk without a significant decrease in percentage of emergence. Hence, we expect fluctuating thermal regime protocols to become a valuable tool for M. rotundata managers, especially when timing nesting activity with peak bloom to maximize effectiveness.
苜蓿切叶蜂（Megachile rotundata（F.））（膜翅目：切叶蜂科）在商业授粉中的应用存在一个重大问题，即如何使蜜蜂的出现和活动与作物盛花期同步。先前的研究表明，可以通过低温孵化成功中断该物种的商业春季孵化，从而减缓其发育速度，并使生产者在出现时间上具有根据天气条件或作物开花进行调整的灵活性。在这项研究中，我们证明了实施波动热制度的有效性，在此期间，每天给蜜蜂一个小时的高温脉冲，这显著增加了该物种个体的“保质期”。尽管恒温下蜜蜂可以储存长达 1 周而不会降低存活率，但经过适当分期的蜜蜂可以储存长达 6 周而不会显著降低出蜂率。因此，我们预计波动热制度方案将成为 M. rotundata 管理者的一项宝贵工具，尤其是在将筑巢活动与盛花期相匹配以最大程度提高效率时。
