The Wisconsin Bumblebee
Fri, Feb 10, 2012

References


This page contains literature referenced throughout The Wisconsin Bumblebee web site.


Ptacek, Vladimír and Drobna, Jarmila. Rearing and using bumblebees for pollination of forage legume genetic resources. Second Short Course on Pollination of Horticultural Plants, publisher: CIFA La Majonera-La Canada IFAPA, Sept 2006. pg. 124-153. Electronic publication in pdf. ISBN 84-6900698-3.

This pdf file has the article in both Spanish and English, as well as all the other articles from this conference. Great information for laboratory rearing of bumblebees, all the basic techniques. This is how do to it! Detailed part of methods of rearing various bumble bee species in laboratory and the possibility of the use of a certain species to pollinate legume genetic resources. A basic "must" for succesfull cage pollination. Ptacek's list of bumble bee publications.


"Why Bumble Bees", pp 459-460 American Bee Journal, July 1995
"Bumble Beekeeping: The Queen Starter Box" American Bee Journal, Nov, 1995
"Bumble Beekeeping: Introducing Queens to Nest in Captivity" American Bee Journal, Jan,1996
"Bumble Beekeeping: Handling Mature Colonies, Mating Queens" American Bee Journal, Feb, 1996

An excellent four article series by Dr. Keith Delaplane, Extension Entomologist, University of Georgia on all the basics of rearing and keeping bumblebees. A good place to start reading.


Heinrich, Bernd. Bumblebee Economics, Harvard University Press, 1979. (reprint 2004)

A very good book on the colony life of bumblebees. Not light reading, but gets into the science and biology of bumblebees. An excellent apendix by R.C. Plowright on how to rear bumblebees. Also a fantastic color plate showing over 50 North American bumblebee species.


Plowright, R.C. and S.C. Jay. "Rearing Bumble Bee Colonies in Captivity," Journal of Apicultural Research 5(3):155-165, 1966.

A must for anyone wanting to raise bumblebees. A detailed paper on how to induce bumblebees to nest in captivity.


Medler, J.T. and D.W. Carney. "Bumblebees of Wisconsin," Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Research Bulletin #240, University of Wisconsin-Madison, January 1963.

Contains a key and excellent descriptions of to the thirteen Bombus and five Psithyrus species known to exist in Wisconsin. Also includes detailed distribution maps for each species presented.


Mitchell, Theodore B. Bees of the Eastern United States, vol. II, North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 152, 1962.

A comprehensive and still up to date guide. Includes an excellent key and distribution table for Bombus, Psithyrus, and Apis species.


Bonney, Richard, "The Nectar Flows," Cranberries, July 1994: page 26-27.

A portion of this article gives a quick overview of bumblebee pollination to date and give a short list (five books and two papers) for further reading.


Pomeroy, Nelson, email message titled "Rearing secrecy," from zonda@inhb.co.nz via BOMBUS_L, July 1996.



This page was last modified on April 27, 2007.
Copyright © 1996 - 2012 Paul H. Oliphant