• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.46 no.1 s.145
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• pp.123-129
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• 2007

An artificial insemination instrument of bumblebee queens was firstly developed. This instrument consists of location tube, transfer tube, holding tube, head product, and probe apparatus for reproductive tract etc. This instrument was designed to minimize stress and damage of reproductive tract of bumblebee queens. The regulator handle apparatus in artificial insemination instrument was used the principle of lever, that manipulates easy, accurate and rapid insemination of bumblebee queens. By using this instrument, the insemination rate was over 90%. This instrument will be useful for the breeding and conservation of excellent character of bumblebees.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2003

This study examined the foraging activities and the Influence of excessive foraging activity by B. ignitus workers on the quality of cherry-tomato fruits in cherry-tomato green-house. The peak time of pollination by B. ignitus worker was recorded at 8:00 and the average of foraging time on each flower was 11.7 secs. The total pollinating time of B. ignitus was 41 mins and 37 secs and its total number of visiting flowers was 195.2. The average time of staying on flowers was 8.8 ${\pm}$5.4 secs when two bumblebees were allowed to pollinate per Pyong (3.954 square yards) in the green house of tomatoes for 24 hours, but it was two times shorter (4.0${\pm}$3.1 secs) compared with that when one bumble-bee was allowed to pollinate per Pyong for one hour. The stamen color of tomato flowers visited by the bumblebee for one hour was brown while the stamen color for 24 hours was dark brown due to the frequent visiting. The average fruit bearing rate of the 4th-6th clusters of tomatoes visited for one hour was 48.9%, which was not significantly different from those allowed to visite for 24 hours. However, the number of seeds of flowers visited for 24 hours was 64.0, which was more than 55.3 seeds of flowers visited for one hour. The weight of fruit was 25.4 g and 24.4 g, respectively. The sweetness was not different significantly between one and 24 hours of visit (P > 0.05). The result revealed that end pro-duct of cherry-tomato was not influenced by over foraging activity of B. ignitus workers on tomato flowers.