• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2003

The effect of $CO_2$-treatment on interrupting diapause of Bombus ignitus was examined to provide a means for year-round rearing of the bumblebee. When mated young queens were exposed to 65% or 99% $CO_2$ for 30 min daily during two consecutive days, oviposition rate increased to 75% and 77%, respectively, comparing 50% in $CO_2$-untreated queens. At the same time, the days needed to first oviposition shortened to 17-18 days in $CO_2$-treated queens, comparing to 30 days in $CO_2$-untreated queens. $CO_2$-treatment at the second day after mating was appropriate to the oviposition and colony development. $CO_2$-treatment showed a positive effect on the oviposition and colony development, but less than them of overwintered queen in numbers of produced progeny. It can be concluded that $CO_2$-treatment to B. ignitus is insufficient to produce commercial grade bumblebee colony in spite of its capability for promoting oviposition, because the treatment failed to form a big colony.