The challenges of breeding at-risk bumble bees and butterflies

Posted onDecember 12, 2023|Mottled Duskywing Butterfly, Native Pollinator Initiative, News and Events
WPC is working to bring the mottled duskywing back to Ontario as part of the Ontario Butterfly Species at Risk Team. Together, we are spearheading an innovative effort to reintroduce the duskywing to Pinery Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario.

On the left, an adult mottled duskywing butterfly at Pinery Provincial Park. Photo: Elliot Santoni. On the right, a yellow-banded bumble bee found in the wild. Photo: Sophie Scattolin

I had the opportunity to work on not one but two different pollinator projects as a WPC technician: the mottled duskywing recovery effort and the bumble bee recovery program in Southern Ontario. My position first allowed me to work in the mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis aka ‘MODU’) lab at Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. This butterfly recovery effort is largely collaborative with many partners contributing to the recovery team. I was also given the opportunity to work in WPC’s bumble bee conservation breeding lab where the yellow-banded bumble bee (Bombus terricola) is the species of interest. Working in both labs offered unique and fascinating experiences, each providing a window into the world of pollinators. When I first joined the bumble bee lab, I found myself comparing everything I did and learned to the mottled duskywing lab. While these labs share a common thread of insect study, it shouldn’t be surprising that they are very different. From egg laying to caring for adult insects, each life stage has a different protocol to suit their respective needs.

At the onset of each season, both laboratories collect their respective insects and relocate them to the controlled lab environment. Here, they are introduced to conditions intended to mimic their natural habitats as closely as possible. Using our MODU butterflies as an example, we ensure the butterflies have access to New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) – the host plant for this species – as well as provide sugar water and electrolytes. Alternatively, our bumble bee residents enjoy a steady supply of nectar and pollen, fostering their reproduction and survival needs.

Husbandry

In the MODU lab, our responsibilities revolved around processing each of the eggs and caring for and nurturing the caterpillars. Unlike some species where parental care is prominent, butterflies lay their eggs and depart. It thus falls upon our shoulders to ensure that within our lab setting the growing caterpillars are getting a constant supply of food and water.

In contrast, the bumble bee lab presented a unique dynamic due to the inherently social nature of these insects. Here, our focus shifted from caring for each individual to the management of entire colonies. Within these bustling communities, the queen and her loyal worker bees assume the role of nurturers, attentively caring for their offspring during the larval stage. At the peak of the season, some colonies grew to accommodate over 200 worker bees and an equally impressive number of egg cells which house the growing larvae. This distinctive social structure marked the most pronounced contrast between the two labs. We must carefully consider the queen, her workers, and, as the season progresses, the emergence of male bees and gynes (which will eventually become new queens the following spring).

A mottled duskywing caterpillar feeding from New Jersey tea. Photo: Maddy Neuman). On the right, a colony of yellow-banded bumble bees in WPC’s Bumble Bee Conservation Lab. Photo: Parker Smale

 

 

Mating trials

This year we conducted mating trials in both lab environments, albeit with distinct objectives in mind. In the case of butterflies, our aim was to facilitate successful mating to induce egg-laying during the current season. This process was essential to our research, as it allowed us to gather valuable data for the ongoing season. Conversely, with gynes – the potential future queens among bumble bees – the mating process followed a different timeline and purpose. Late in the season, these gynes would engage in mating, but this would not lead to immediate reproduction. Instead, they undergo an overwintering phase. When they emerge in the spring, they will build their own colony and begin the egg-laying process.

 

 

 

A pair of mottled duskywing butterflies undergoing copulation. Photo: Ameera Saleh, On the right, a yellow-banded gyne and male (marked with white paint) copulating. Photo: Parker Smale

Similarities

It’s worth noting that our lab rearing programs for both MODU butterflies and bumble bees are still growing. As such, our protocols are always evolving, adapting and being refined as we unveil fresh insights and more effective methods for rearing these insects. This commitment to adaptability and the pursuit of cutting-edge practices underscores our dedication to not only understanding but also safeguarding the fragile ecosystems and populations these insects contribute to.

Despite the pronounced disparities between our butterfly and bumble bee research, there exists a notable common ground as well. Both of these captivating insect studies are a part of our Native Pollinator Initiative, unified by the shared objective of advancing conservation efforts for these species through innovative and progressive approaches.

Ameera Saleh

Ameera is a Carleton University and Niagara College graduate where she studied ecosystem restoration. She has a great interest in species at risk and conservation.

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