Bumblebee consumption bioassay

Knowledge graph centered on Bumblebee consumption bioassay with 47 nodes and 164 connections. Top connected: Hummingbird, Bombus, Delphinium, Bombus terrestris, Bombus appositus.

Method synopsis

Laboratory feeding trials exposing individual bumblebee workers to alkaloid-enriched sucrose solutions followed by behavioral activity scoring to assess direct consumptive effects of nectar alkaloids.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 2 papers using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Norditerpene alkaloid concentrations in tissues and floral rewards of larkspurs and impacts on pollinators (2013), Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Prepare bees for bioactivity experiments
   Workers from commercial Bombus impatiens colonies were used. Individual workers placed in vials, starved for 2 h, then fed 500 μl sucrose solution of appropriate treatment. After 24 h, individual bees were transferred to clear plastic container fitted with removable lid with multiple perforations.
   Quantities: 500 μl sucrose solution per beeDuration: 2 hours starvation, 24 hours treatment periodConditions: Commercial Bombus impatiens colonies
   Equipment: Vials, Clear plastic containers with perforated lids
2. Record and score bee behavior
   Bees were agitated by blowing on them for 90 s while behavior was recorded with digital camcorder. Videos scored for nine activities including tarsal/wing movements, aggression, and flight using 0-5 subjective scale. Activities scored on both frequency and intensity, scores summed to obtain general metric of bee activity (range 0 to 45).
   Quantities: 9 behavioral activities, 0-5 scale each, total possible score 0-45Duration: 90 seconds recording per beeConditions: Bees agitated by blowing to stimulate response
   Equipment: Digital camcorder

Typical Equipment

• individual vials
• clear plastic containers
• removable lids
• digital camcorder (Sony Super SteadyShot HDR-SR11)

Output Measurements

• activity scores
• behavioral responses
• mortality

Papers Using This Protocol (2)

Species Studied With This Protocol