Effect of Different Nest Box Materials on the Mating of European Bumblebee Bombus terrestris under Controlled Environmental Conditions

We examined the possible effect of different box materials in relation to time interval on the mating of European bumblebee Bombus terrestris under controlled environmental conditions. The lowest rate of mating was found in wooden box with mean of 49% pairs and the highest mating tendency was found in polycarbonate box. Further in relation to time interval during the first minutes of introduction of queens and males in mating cage significant difference between all three boxes showed the highest mating rate within first minutes in polycarbonate box. Similarly during the five minutes of time interval from introduction mating tendency was high in polycarbonate box which was 1-2 fold higher from iron mesh box and wooden box. During the time elapse of fifteen minutes of introduction of queens and males in the mating cage there existed no significant difference between the polycarbonate box and iron mesh box but significantly different in wooden box. Such important abiotic affect of mating environment suggests the possibilities for higher mating tendency needed for their commercial breeding programs.