[Biodiversity and Genetic Studies of Bumblebee Bombus sp. in Syrian Coast and Rearing Laboratory Experiments]

This research was performed between 2009 and 2012 in the Syrian coastal regions (Tartus and Lattakia). The aim of this study is to survey and classify the most important bumblebees species and to determine their period of activity and geographical distributions. On the other hand, we have characterized morphometrically different species, studied the relative abundance, frequency of these species, identified the most important host plants of bumblebees. Genetic analysis was conducted in order to determine the genetic distance between the imported bumblebees, Bombus terrestris L. and the local ones found in Syria. using polymerase chain reaction SSR, and also carried out rearing experiments of bumblebee queens in the laboratory. Results showed that: there were two different species of bumblebees belonging to subfamily of bumblebees Bombinae, Apidae family order of Hymenoptera. These species were: Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) which belongs to bumblebee short tongue group. Queen and worker have 12 antenna segments, 13 segments for males, abdomens have yellow pigmentation on both first and second thorax tergites, and white ones the fourth and the fifth abdominal tergites, while the rest of segments are black. Queen length is between (20-23) mm (20.05±0.003), worker length 11-17 mm (15.32±0.23), and the male length 15-17 mm(16.18 ±0.11). Queen tongue length 6-6.5 mm (6.23± 0.07), and 4-6.5 mm (5.33±0.9) for both worker and male. This species spreads in different areas of Tartus (Amrit, Safita, Machta Alhelo, AlQadmus) and Lattakia (the villages of Jableh, Al Qardaha, Slunfeh, Kassab). Queen activity started from early February until mid-July going to the beginning of August. We have recorded 23 host plants for this bumblebee species. Biodiversity And Genetic Studies Of Bumblebee Bombus sp. In Syrian Coast And Rearing Laboratory Experiments Damascus University -Faculty of Agriculture-Department of plant protection Bassem Solaiman-Khaled Thesis Doctoral The results showed that the species B. terrestris is the main species (abundant and very common), his relative average abundance during the years 2009 and 2010, were more than 10%,(48.03%, 43.55%) respectively, and his frequency are more than 50% (87.22%, 94.79%) in the two years together at the two regions of study, results showed through cluster analysis two clusters first cluster: included samples of imported bees taken from colonies (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and samples of Lattakia- Alhafa and Lattakia-Kassab-Midan, the second group was included samples taken from Tartus (Machta alhelo, ALQadmus, Alnoatif, Alqtalbah, AlQadmus) and Lattakia (Alqardaha, Slenfeh, Kassab Ballauran). A total of 55 alleles have been detected, 25 of them were polymorphic in an average of 47.1%, The results showed the failure of rearing process in the laboratory, while one queen laid 6 eggs and continued rearing until they became adults, then all died. B. argillaceus (Scopoli, 1763) belongs to the long tongue group of bumblebees. This species is located in the coastal regions in a low average, region of Tartus (Machta Alhelo, AlQadmus) and Lattakia (Slunfeh). The queen is characterized by the presence of yellow color on the first and third thorax tergites and a black color on the rest of the segments. However, workers are characterized by yellow pigmentations on the first and third thoracic tergites and on the first and half of the second ventral segments, as well as a white color on the fourth and fifth abdominal tergites with a black color on the rest of the segments. Worker length is 15-16 mm (15.40 ± 0.1), the average of tongue length is 8-10 mm (8.68 ± 0.17). Workers are seen from the beginning of April until mid-July, queens hibernate after that. The abundance of this species was estimated to 1.97% in 2009 and 6.45% in 2010. Biodiversity And Genetic Studies Of Bumblebee Bombus sp. In Syrian Coast And Rearing Laboratory Experiments Damascus University -Faculty of Agriculture-Department of plant protection Bassem Solaiman-Khaled Thesis Doctoral This species is considered to be one of the marginal species in that areas due to its low presence (less than 24%) and its low frequencies between sporadic and accidental (5.21%, 12.78%) for the two years (2009, 2010) respectively. The two species have one generation per year(univoltinous); are hosted by five plants and have been recorded for the first time in Syria.