Gas exchange patterns of bumble bee foragers before and after exposing to lowered temperature

The gas exchange patterns are known to vary between insect species, individuals and even intra-individually. Using volumetric-manometric and flow-through respirometry combined with IR-actography we studied how periods of low temperature affect the respiratory patterns of bumble bee Bombus terrestris foragers. We have shown, in this study, that there is a change in the respiratory patterns of individual B. terrestris foragers after exposing to low temperatures. The bumble bees seemed to become more inactive. The different respiratory patterns appeared in succession and the transition from one pattern to another was associated with the change from an active to a resting state. Typical patterns after exposition to low temperature were discontinuous gas exchange cycles (DGCs).