The biology of humble-bees with special reference to the production of the worker caste
File(s)
Author(s)
Cumber., R. A
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Observations on the biology of humble-bees in England include new information on the structure of nests, nest temperatures. food materials, larval nutrition, larval instars, larval specific characters, and parasites and commensals. The inhabitants or nests of different sizes have been studied to determine the nature of seasonal population changes. A division of labour into smaller "nurse" bees and larger foragers is shown to be significant in several species, and it is shown that in some species there is a further division or foragers into Individuals visiting flowers with deep nectaries. and those visiting flowers with shallower nectaries. Tile development of ovaries in workers and factors influencing this have been studied. A method for numerical estimation of ovarial development has been described. The size of female individuals in queen producing nests of different species has been determined, and brood has been studied in nests at the change-over from worker to queen production to gain information on the nature of this change. Brood/worker ratios in nests at different stages of development have been studied, and it has been found that this must approach or fall below one before queen brood is produced. Oviposition rates and egg destruction have been studied and considered in relation to the problem of worker and queen production.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
1948
Date Awarded
1948
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Description Note
Supplement: The Biology of Humble-bees with special reference to the production of the worker caste, 1949. The print copy is held by College Archives. Contact acru@imperial.ac.uk for further information.
Publisher Department
Biology
Publisher Institution
University of London - Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)