Immunocompetence in workers of a social insect, Bombus terrestris L., in relation to foraging activity and parasitic infection

Abstract

The immune system is a general mechanism that reduces the fitness cost of parasitism. In this study, we examined variation in immune responses under natural conditions in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Using 14 colonies reared in the field, we compared the immune response to an artificial implant between workers that could or could not forage (86 control and 91 nonforaging workers). Foraging activity was prevented by cutting a large part of the wings. As expected, control workers had lower immune responses than nonforaging workers in 10 of 14 colonies. Overall, the treatment effect was significant even though weak, suggestive of a trade-off between immune defence and foraging activity. We also examined the environmental factors that might covary with the immune response in workers. The immune response significantly decreased in workers that were naturally infected by the intestinal parasite Crithidia bombi and increased with a measure of colony success, the maximum number of workers. These correlations suggest that the strength of immune responses reflects individual, and hence colony condition.