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Insects
Special Issues
Bumblebee Biology and Ecology
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Bumblebee Biology and Ecology

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Insects and Apiculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1752

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jiandong An

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: pollinators; bumblebees; pollination

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bumblebees are vital pollinators, playing a crucial role in both the agricultural and natural ecosystems. However, over the past few decades, bumblebee diversity has faced an alarming decline due to multi-environmental stressors such as habitat destruction, pesticide uses, climate change, etc. This decline threatens ecosystem stability, agricultural production, and ultimately global food security. As global agricultural practices evolve and the demand for efficient pollinators grow, bumblebees have emerged as the most efficient and domesticated pollinators after honeybees. The conservation of wild bumblebees and the effective breeding and utilization of domesticated bumblebees are essential for sustaining biodiversity and enhancing agriculture productivity. To address these challenges, this Special Issue aims to gather the latest research on bumblebee biology and ecology for the promotion of innovative conservation strategies and sustainable agricultural practices. We invite contributions on topics such as bumblebee diversity and/or population dynamics, reproduction biology, diseases and parasites, pollination ecology, foraging behaviour, their role in agriculture, and conservation efforts. By deepening our understanding of these vital pollinators, this Special Issue seeks to support efforts in preserving both the natural ecosystem and agricultural productivity for future generations.

Prof. Dr. Jiandong An
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bumblebee
  • biology
  • ecology
  • behavior
  • reproduction
  • pollination
  • conservation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1802 KiB  
Article
Flupyradifurone Exhibits Greater Toxicity to the Asian Bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis Compared to the European Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
by Chunting Jie, Hong Zhang, Ziyu Zhou, Zhengying Miao, Bo Han, Baodi Guo, Yi Guo, Xiao Hu, Shahid Iqbal, Bingshuai Wei, Jiaxing Huang, Pingli Dai and Jiandong An
Insects 2025, 16(5), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16050455 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 86
Abstract
Pesticides are considered a major factor in the decline of bee populations. Flupyradifurone, a novel insecticide, is believed to be relatively ‘bee-safe’. This study aims to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of flupyradifurone and assess its risks to both commercial bumblebee Bombus [...] Read more.
Pesticides are considered a major factor in the decline of bee populations. Flupyradifurone, a novel insecticide, is believed to be relatively ‘bee-safe’. This study aims to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of flupyradifurone and assess its risks to both commercial bumblebee Bombus terrestris and the Asian native species B. lantschouensis. Oral toxicity tests demonstrated species-specific sensitivity, with B. lantschouensis exhibiting 5.4-fold higher acute toxicity (72-h LD50: 5.1 μg/bee vs. 28 μg/bee) and 3-fold lower chronic toxicity (No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration, NOAEC: 20 μg/mL vs. 60 μg/mL) compared to B. terrestris. Risk assessments indicated low Hazard Quotients (HQ) of 4 for B. terrestris and 20 for B. lantschouensis. However, the Exposure Toxicity Ratio (ETR) values from both screening and first-tier assessments exceeded the trigger levels, necessitating further testing. This study provides crucial data on the acute and chronic toxic effects of flupyradifurone and highlights the need for more comprehensive insecticide risk assessments, particularly for non-Apis pollinators, to better protect these vital species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bumblebee Biology and Ecology)
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16 pages, 25155 KiB  
Article
Temperature-Related Bioclimatic Variables Play a Greater Role in the Spatial Distribution of Bumblebee Species in Northern Pakistan
by Muhammad Naeem, Arzoo Rani, Weiyao Lyu, Huaibo Zhao, Maryam Riasat, Saail Abbas, Sabir Hussain, Nawaz Haider Bashir, Qiang Li and Huanhuan Chen
Insects 2025, 16(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16010001 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 814
Abstract
Bumblebee species are vital wild pollinators, providing essential pollination services for various crops, fruits, and vegetables. However, their biodiversity is vulnerable to decline due to climate change, particularly in regions like northern Pakistan. Despite this, no research has yet been conducted on the [...] Read more.
Bumblebee species are vital wild pollinators, providing essential pollination services for various crops, fruits, and vegetables. However, their biodiversity is vulnerable to decline due to climate change, particularly in regions like northern Pakistan. Despite this, no research has yet been conducted on the distribution patterns of bumblebee species in this region. The current study aimed to model the spatial distribution of three important bumblebee species: Bombus haemorrhoidalis, B. rufofasciatus, and B. subtypicus in northern Pakistan. Habitat suitability and the contribution of bioclimatic variables to the spatial distribution of species were assessed using the MaxEnt approach. Current and future bioclimatic variables, along with presence-only records of three bumblebee species, were incorporated into the species distribution model. The results indicated that nearly 96% of the area (43 out of 45 cities in northern Pakistan) showed habitat suitability for all three species in the current scenario. Among these 43 cities, five exhibited a 100% overlap in suitable areas for the three species. However, this overlap area is expected to decrease in the future, particularly by the middle of the 21st century, highlighting these regions as prime candidates for conservation. In terms of bioclimatic factors influencing spatial distribution, the study found that temperature-related variables played a more significant role than precipitation-related ones in current and future scenarios. Specifically, bio3 (isothermality) contributed 48% to B. haemorrhoidalis and 43% to B. rufofasciatus, while bio2 (mean diurnal range) was the most influential factor for B. subtypicus. Temperature-related variables accounted for more than 80%, 69.4%, and 78.3% of the spatial variation in B. haemorrhoidalis, B. rufofasciatus, and B. subtypicus, respectively. This study demonstrates the critical influence of temperature on the spatial distribution of bumblebee species in northern Pakistan, underscoring the need for climate-focused conservation strategies to protect these important wild pollinators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bumblebee Biology and Ecology)
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