THE EFFECTS OF FOOD SUPPLY ON ADULT SIZE IN THE BUMBLE BEE BOMBUS TERRICOLA KIRBY (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)

Abstract
Captive colonies of Bombus terricola Kirby received pollen for 8, 14, or 24 h per day from the time of onset of second brood oviposition until colony decline. The pattern of change of worker body size over time, especially between the first and second broods, varied according to these experimental food regimes. The results indicate that conflicting results reported in the literature, with respect to changes in worker size over the course of colony development, probably can be regarded, at least in part, as the outcome of differences in food supply.