Reciprocal egg-transfer experiment for bee larval survival (Megachilidae)

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Method synopsis

Laboratory experiment transferring bee eggs between different pollen provision types to test effects on larval survival. Eggs moved between Taraxacum and native Asteraceae provisions in a balanced reciprocal design with controlled rearing conditions.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 7 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Fitness costs and benefits of a non-native floral resource for subalpine solitary bees (2025), Oikos. The protocol was originally introduced by Nectar sugar limits larval growth of solitary bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) (2009), Environmental Entomology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Conduct reciprocal egg-transfer experiment
   Collected completed bee nests from the field and divided into individual brood cells consisting of one pollen provision and one egg, using a scalpel and pair of microsurgical. Individual brood cells were placed in 2.0 × 1.0 cm wells drilled into the side of 30.8 × 3.7 cm wood blocks. Used a metal spatula to transfer eggs between Taraxacum pollen provisions and other Asteraceae provisions in a reciprocal transplant design, with equal numbers of each bee species originating from and transferred to each provision type.
   Quantities: 154 total egg transfers completed, 68 eggs transferred onto Taraxacum provisions and 34 originating on Taraxacum provisionsDuration: Conducted in 2018 and 2019Conditions: Laboratory conditions, reciprocal design with balanced transfers
   Equipment: scalpel, microsurgical instruments, metal spatula, wood blocks with drilled wells 2.0 × 1.0 cm
2. Monitor larval development and survival
   Transferred eggs were kept in a dark growth chamber that ramped daily between approximately 5.0 and 25°C (in 2018) and part of 2019 in an opaque container in a shaded outdoor door enclosure. Monitored larval progress and developmental status every other day using a hand lens or a dissecting microscope. Observed each bee larva until it reached pupation, died, or until departure from the research station.
   Quantities: Daily temperature range 5.0-25°C, monitoring every other dayDuration: From egg transfer until pupation, death, or end of season

Typical Equipment

• scalpel
• microsurgical instruments
• metal spatula
• wood blocks
• growth chamber

Output Measurements

• larval survival rates
• development success
• pupation success

Papers Using This Protocol (7)

Species Studied With This Protocol