Interspecific association of bumblebees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) in Omsk region during the beginning of flight activity 

Ivan V. Kraynov, Assistant of the sub-department of geography and methods of teaching geography, Omsk State Pedagogical University (14 Tukhachevskogo embankment, Omsk, Russia), E-mail: kivsib@mail.ru
Vener N. Sattarov, Doctor of biological sciences, professor, dean of the faculty of natural sciences and geography, Bashkir State Pedagogical University (3a Oktyabrskoy revolutsii street, Ufa, Russia), E-mail: Wener5791@yandex.ru
Boris Yu. Kassal, Candidate of veterinary sciences, associated professor, senior staff scientist of scientific and technical department, Omsk State University (55A, Mira avenue, Omsk, Russia), E-mail: bykassal@mail.ru 

Background. Of great importance for bumblebees is the availability of a food base in two significant periods of life: at the beginning of flight activity after leaving wintering and at the end of flight activity in the period before wintering. The purpose of the work was to analyze the interacting groups of the interspecific association of bumblebees of Omsk forest-steppe at the beginning of flight activity after leaving wintering. Materials and methods. Field determinants are used in the work; the taxonomy of bumblebee species is given by Williams P. Results. Taking into account the timing of summer of each species included in the interspecific association, we identified the period of the beginning of the flight activity of bumblebees – from the 1st decade of May to the 3rd decade of June. Depending on weather conditions during the period of leaving the winter, the timing of flight activity may shift. Conclusions. At the beginning of the flight activity of bumblebees of the interspecific association of the central forest-steppe of the Omsk region from the 1st decade of May to the 3rd decade of June, the main forage plants are 28 species from nine families. The interspecific association of the central forest-steppe of the Omsk region at the beginning of flight activity, after leaving wintering, consists of several interacting groups, which at certain periods are formed from a different number of bumblebees. 

bumblebee, interspecific association, forage plants, interacting groups, foreststeppe, Omsk region 

Kraynov I.V., Sattarov V.N., Kassal B.Yu. Interspecific association of bumblebees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) in Omsk region during the beginning of flight activity. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Estestvennye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Natural sciences. 2022;(3):53–64. (In Russ.). doi:10.21685/2307-9150-2022-3-5