Woegler, Laura and Kurze, Christoph (2025) Experimental short-term heatwaves negatively impact body weight gain and survival during larval development in Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). BIOLOGY OPEN, 14 (4): bio061781. ISSN 2046-6390
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Climate change-induced heatwaves threaten global biodiversity, including crucial pollinators like bumblebees. In particular, the increasing frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves is alarming. Despite these projections, little is known about the effects of short-term heatwaves on insect larval development. Hence, we investigated the impact of simulated heatwaves on the development of 4th instar larvae (L4) of Bombus terrestris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) using an in vitro rearing method. Individual larvae were incubated at 37 degrees C and 38 degrees C for a period of 4 days, with a constant rearing temperature of 34 degrees C as the control. We examined body weight gain, developmental duration, survival to adult stage, and adult body size (i.e. dry mass, intertegular distance, and head width). A simulated heatwave of 37 degrees C did not significantly affect larval development, but 38 degrees C impaired larval body mass gain. While developmental duration and adult body size were unaffected, an acute heat stress of 38 degrees C during the L4 stage reduced the probability of pupae reaching adulthood. These findings highlight the potential for heatwaves to negatively affect bee populations by impairing larval growth and reducing survival to the adult stage, which may have severe implications for colony fitness.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | HEAT WAVES; BUMBLEBEES HYMENOPTERA; CLIMATE; THERMOREGULATION; POLLINATORS; INCREASES; SUMMER; EVENTS; SIZE; BEES; Social insect; Extreme heat; Acute stress; Critical weight; Metamorphosis; Brood; Bombus terrestris |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 590 Zoological sciences |
| Divisions: | Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinze) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Apr 2026 05:13 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Apr 2026 05:13 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/66777 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
