• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.28-32
• /
• 2009

We describe here the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding the glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the bumblebee Bombus ignitus. The Delta-class B. ignitus GST (BiGSTD) gene spans 1668 bp and consists of four introns and five exons that encode 216 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of approximately 24561 Da and a pI of 8.03. The N-terminal domain of BiGSTD has a conserved Ser residue, as well as conserved Lys, Pro, Glu, Ser and Tyr residues that are involved in the GSH-binding site of GST. The BiGSTD showed 60% protein sequence identity to the Bombyx mori GSTT1, 58% to Musca domestica GST, 57% to Drosophila melanogaster GST, and 55% to Anopheles gambiae GST1. BiGSTD was close to the insect-specific Delta class of GSTs in a phylogenetic tree. Northern blot analysis showed that BiGSTD is highly expressed in the fat body and midgut, and less so in the muscles of B. ignitus worker bees.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.139-143
• /
• 2004

It was investigated whether developmental characteristics of foundation queens of Bombus ignitus collected in the 4 localities in Korea would be affected by the first oviposition days of them. The first ovipostion day was classified as 1-4 days (immediate early), 5-6days (early), 7-10 days (delayed early), 11-20 days{medium), 21- 40 days (late), and above 41 days (very late). The queen that had the early first oviposition day, i.e., laid eggs so early after starting to be raised indoors, showed much higher rate of colony foundation and progeny-queen production and much shorter period of colony foundation and worker emergence. Besides, the numbers of worker and progeny-queen emerged from the queen that had the early first oviposition day were higher than those of the queen that had the late first oviposition. In results, the queen that had the early first oviposition day could make colony stronger and could make colony formation period shorter, therefore, the first oviposition day of foundation queen was proved to be a criterion for the selection of super colonies when B. ignitus is raised indoors.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.95-99
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of body weight of queen on the developmental characteristics of foundation queens in the Bombus ignitus collected in Korean locality. Queens were classified into six groups based on their body weight (i.e., 0.4 g, 0.5 g, 0.6 g, 0.7 g, 0.8 g and 0.9 g). The average weight of 200 foundation queens collected was 0.657${\times}40.095 g and 0.6 g-class was most abundant (38 %) among six weight classes. The queen that had the heavy body weight showed the trends of higher rate of oviposition, colony foundation and progeny-queen production and shorter periods of preoviposition and colony foundation, suggesting the positive correlation between the body weight of queen and colony developmental characteristics. Also, the numbers of worker and progeny-queen emerged from the queen with heavy body weight were slightly higher than those with light body weight queen.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.107-111
• /
• 2009

The alcohol extract of the larvae of Bombus ignitus, otherwise known as the Bumblebee, was orally administered to rats at doses of 0, 0.04, 0.2, 1 or 2 g/kg as a single oral dose. There were no observed clinical signs or deaths related to treatment in all the groups tested. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose of the alcohol extract of B. ignitus was considered to be higher than 2 g/kg in rats. Mild decreases in body weight gain in male rats were observed dose-dependently within the B. ignitus treated groups over 2 weeks. Throughout the administration periods, no significant changes in diet consumption, ophthalmologic findings, clinical pathology (hematology, clinical chemistry and coagulation) or gross pathology were detected. Minor changes in male rats were found with in the hematological parameters in groups treated with the 0.04 g/kg, 1 g/kg or 2 g/kg of B. ignitus larvae extract, however, all the changes observed were within the physiological range. From these results, it was concluded that there was no evidence of specific toxicity related to the ingestion of alcohol extract of B. ignitus larvae.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2007

We investigated mating conditions of photoperiod, illumination and temperature during mating periods, care temperature of queen before mating, mating period and number of queen per mating cage to improve mating rate of Bombus ignitus. Among photoperiodic regimes of 12L, 14L and 16L during mating periods, queen mated at 14L showed better results than at 12L and 16L in egg-laying characteristics and colony development. In case of illumination during mating periods, intensity of 1000 lux was more effective than at intensity of 100 lux and 2000 lux in mating B. ignitus queen. Mating temperature and care temperature of queen before mating favorable for B. ignitus queen were $22-25^{\circ}C$ and $19^{\circ}C$, respectively. The period need to mating B. ignitus queen was 3 days, and the number of queen suitable per mating cage of $55{\times}45{\time}65\;cm$ was 30.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.151-154
• /
• 2003

The effect of photoperiodic regimes on the oviposition and colony development of Bombus ignitus queens was examined with 0L, 8L, and 16L under $27^{\circ}C$ and 65% R. H. Among these photoperiod regimes, the oviposition rate at 8L and 16L was 80.2% and 83.1%, respectively, which was 12-15% higher than that at the dark condition (0L). Duration up to first oviposition at 8L and 16L was 17.5 days and 16.5 days, respectively, which was 2-3 days shorter than that at 0L. The colony foundation rate at 8L and 16L was 9.2% and 10.4%, respectively, which corresponded to 1.7-2.0-fold higher than the value at 0L. In addition, the rate of progeny-queen production at 8L and 16L was also two fold higher than that at 0L. Taken these together, the light conditions (8L and 16L) rather than dark condition (0L) were more suitable for oviposition and colony development for B. ignitus in the indoor rearing condition.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.241-247
• /
• 2004

It was investigated whether or not flight has any effects on oviposition and colony development of the artificially hibernated Bombus terrestris queen and ,$CO_2$-treated queen. Flight periods were defined as 0 days (control), 1 day, 3 days and 6 days. The weights of queens after flight were 1.5-8.9% lower than those before flight depending on the flight periods. The oviposition and colony development of artificially hibernated and $CO_2$-treated B. terrestris queen were affected by the flight. Among flight periods tested, in particular, the queens start to flight for 3 days showed better flight effect than those other flight periods in the colony development, rate of colony foundation, rate of progeny-queen production, the number of worker and queen produced. But, the longer the flight periods is, the worse the oviposition and colony development of the queens hibernated artificially and $CO_2$-treated are (i.e., the 6 days-flight queen).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
• /
• 2005.09a
• /
• pp.112-112
• /
• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
• /
• 2005.04a
• /
• pp.72-72
• /
• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
• /
• 2004.10a
• /
• pp.75-75
• /
• 2004