Larval temperature in brood
clumps of Bombus pascuorum (Scop.)
Author(s)
D. A. Barrow and R. S. Pickard
Abstract
For 21 larvae cocoon diameter (4.3 to 8.1 mm) was
positively correlated with mean temperature at the fourth instar stage (27.06,
SE ± 0.17 to 31.89, SE ± 0.15°C; r = 0.59, P<O.O1) and negatively correlated
with variation in temperature (coefficient of variation, CV, 2.38 to 4.65; r = -0.53,
P<0·05). Larvae located centrally in a brood clump generally experienced
higher and more stable temperatures (30.89 ± 0.39°C; CV, 2.77 ± 0.16) than
those located peripherally (29.10 ± 0.34°C; CV, 3.26 ± 0.13). Pupal weight was
highly correlated with centrally located pupal cocoons of 7.27, SE ± 0.30 mm in
diameter and peripheral cocoons of 5.78, SE ± 0.28 mm in diameter (r = 0.95,
P<O·OO1).
