A failed invasion? Commercially introduced pollinators in Southern France

• Published in: Apidologie Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Ings, Thomas C, Ings, Nicola L, Chittka, Lars, Rasmont, Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.01.2010; Springer Netherlands; EDP Sciences; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Animal biology; Animal production studies; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bombus terrestris; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecology, environment; Entomology; feral animals; foraging; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; greenhouses; hybrids; indigenous species; introgression; Invertebrate Zoology; Life Sciences; males; Original Article; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; surveys; France; Europe; sous-espèce introduite; Hummelimport; installation de populations; eingeführte Rassen; bumble bee trade; establishment; Bombus terrestris sassaricus; niche availability; niche écologique; commercialisation de; Ansiedlung; introduced subspecies; compétition intraspécifique; Nischenverfügbarkeit; pollinisateurs; Introduced species; Insect pollination; Insecta; Apidae; Invasion; Marketing; Pollinator; Apoidea; Arthropoda; Interspecific competition; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Bombus terrestris; Native species; Aculeata; Environmental protection; niche availability > -Bombus terrestris sassaricus; commercialisation de Bombus; compétition intraspécifique/niche écologique
• ISSN: 0044-8435; 1297-9678
• DOI: 10.1051/apido/2009044

The natural diversity of Bombus terrestris subspecies could be under threat from the commercialisation of bumblebees. Therefore, to determine whether commercially imported bumblebees are able to establish and spread, we carried out long-term observations of bumblebees in southern France. Our surveys occurred before, during, and after the importation (between 1989 and 1996) of thousands of colonies of the Sardinian subspecies B. t. sassaricus. Queens and males of B. t. sassaricus were observed foraging outside commercial greenhouses in 1991, 1993, and 1994 and feral workers were observed foraging on native vegetation nearly two years after the importation of B. t. sassaricus ceased. However, no B. t. sassaricus, or F1 hybrids were observed after 1998. We conclude that B. t. sassaricus remains inconspicuous in France and competition from the three native subspecies may have prevented it from becoming invasive. However, genetic interference through introgression cannot be ruled out.