The Effect of Supplementary Feeding with Different Pollens in Autumn on Colony Development under Natural Environment and In Vitro Lifespan of Honey Bees

Effect of artificial sugar supplement on the lifespan and learning memory ability of honey bee (Apis cerana) worker bee offspring

Honeybees maintain their growth and reproduction mainly by collecting nutrients from nectar-source plants. Apis cerana, a unique species of honeybee in China, is capable of sporadically collecting nectar. In traditional beekeeping, sugar syrup or a honey-water solution must be artificially fed to bees to supplement their diet during rainy weather or nectar-deficient periods. In this study, 2 groups of honeybee colonies were each fed sugar syrup or a honey-water solution, and a third group consisting of colonies that were allowed to naturally forage without any dietary supplement was used as the control. The effects of the 2 sugar sources on A. cerana worker bee offspring were compared. The results showed that the sugar source affected the lifespan and learning memory of the worker bee offspring. The lifespan, learning memory ability, and expression of related genes in the sugar syrup group were significantly lower than those in the honey-water solution and natural nectar foraging groups (P < 0.05). A honey-water solution supplement was more beneficial to the healthy development of worker bee offspring than a sugar syrup supplement when the colonies lacked dietary resources. These findings provide a theoretical basis that can guide beekeepers in choosing the appropriate dietary supplements for honeybees.

Improving bee feed recipes to safeguard honeybee colonies during times of food scarcity

In beekeeping, when natural nectar or pollen sources become limited, it is crucial to provide supplemental bee feed to maintain the viability of the bee colony. This study was conducted during the autumn food shortage season, during which bees were fed with different proportions of modified bee feed. We identified an optimal bee diet by evaluating honeybee longevity, food consumption, body weight, and gut microbe distribution, with natural pollen serving as a control diet. The results indicated that bees preferred a mixture of 65% defatted soy flour, 20% corn protein powder, 13% wheat germ flour, 2% yeast powder, and a 50% sucrose solution. This bee food recipe significantly increased the longevity, feed consumption, and body weight of bees. The group fed the natural pollen diet exhibited a greater abundance of essential intestinal bacteria. The bee diets used in this study contained higher protein levels and lower concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins than did the diets stored within the colonies. Therefore, we propose that incorporating both bee feed and natural pollen in beekeeping practices will achieve more balanced nutritional intake.

Effect of various supplements on productive performance of honey bees, in the south Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

The productivity and well-being of honey bee colonies are greatly influenced by the nutrients present in the hives. A study was conducted to evaluate different supplemental feeds on honey bee productive performance during dearth periods. Thirty colonies were grouped into five (four treatment groups and one control group) and each group contained three sub-groups (2 weak, 2 strong, and 2 very strong). Control groups were not given any supplementation. Treatment diets were T1 (50% sugar syrup + 14% roasted barley powder (beso) + 36% roasted spiced pea powder (Shiro)), T2 (50% powder sugar + 14% white sorghum powder + 36% bakery yeast, T3 (50% powder sugar + 14% white sorghum powder + 36% skimmed milk powder), T4 (50% sugar syrup with infusion of stinging nettle and 1% kerefa + 50% white sorghum powder). Feed was given on the entrance sides. The performance of experimental colonies was measured every 21 days in two phases during the dry season (from 3_2_2021 to 27_4_2021) and the rainy season (from 28-7_2021 to 1_10_2021). Feed intake, space (cm2) of pollen, nectar, and honey in the comb were measured using a frame-sized transparent grid meter. The study revealed significant differences (p<0.0001) in all measured parameters among the various treatments. The diet provided by T4 showed the highest levels of crude protein (18.15%) and carbohydrates (92.15%), whereas the diet presented by T3 had the lowest crude protein content (6.66%) and the diet offered by T1 had the lowest carbohydrate content (61.91%). In general, colonies that received T4 showcased superior performance compared to others. They exhibited a feed intake of 98.3%, a nectar area of 54.3 cm2, a pollen area of 68.7 cm2, a honey area of 311.2 cm2, and a honey yield of 7 kg. Consequently, their net profit amounted to 51.54 USD. On the other hand, the colonies that received T1 had the lowest performance indicators. They demonstrated a feed intake of only 54.7%, a nectar area of 37.6 cm2, a pollen area of 48.8 cm2, a honey area of 254.3 cm2, a honey yield of 2.8 kg, and a net profit of 18.81 USD. The significance of this study was to enable the beekeepers in realizing the effects of feed supplements on the productivity and profitability of honeybee colonies.

Enhancing Honey Bee Health: Evaluating Pollen Substitute Diets in Field and Cage Experiments

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) play vital roles as agricultural pollinators and honey producers. However, global colony losses are increasing due to multiple stressors, including malnutrition. Our study evaluated the effects of four pollen substitute diets (Diet 1, Diet 2, Diet 3, and Control) through field and cage experiments, analyzing 11 parameters and 21 amino acids. Notably, Diet 1 demonstrated significantly superior performance in the field experiment, including the number of honey bees, brood area, consumption, preference, colony weight, and honey production. In the cage experiment, Diet 1 also showed superior performance in dried head and thorax weight and vitellogenin (vg) gene expression levels. Canonical discriminant and principle component analyses highlighted Diet 1's distinctiveness, with histidine, diet digestibility, consumption, vg gene expression levels, and isoleucine identified as key factors. Arginine showed significant correlations with a wide range of parameters, including the number of honey bees, brood area, and consumption, with Diet 1 exhibiting higher levels. Diet 1, containing apple juice, soytide, and Chlorella as additive components, outperformed the other diets, suggesting an enhanced formulation for pollen substitute diets. These findings hold promise for the development of more effective diets, potentially contributing to honey bee health.

Comparative Study of the Effect of Pollen Substitute Diets on Honey Bees during Early Spring

The nutritional quality of a colony significantly affects its health and strength, particularly because it is required for population growth in the early spring. We investigated the impact of various artificial pollen substitute diets on colony performance in the Republic of Korea during early spring, a critical period for colony health and growth. The colonies were provided with different diets, including the commercial product Megabee (positive control), our developed diet Test A, and four upgraded versions (Diet 1, Diet 2, Diet 3, and Diet 4) of Test A. The negative control group received no supplementary feed. Over 63 days, we observed 24 experimental colonies and assessed various parameters at the colony and individual levels. The results revealed that Diet 2 had the highest consumption and had the most positive impact on population growth, the capped brood area, colony weight, honey bees' weight, and vitellogenin levels. These findings suggested that Diet 2 is most attractive to honey bees and thus holds great promise for improving colony maintenance and development during the crucial early spring period.

Honey Bees Prefer Pollen Substitutes Rich in Protein Content Located at Short Distance from the Apiary

The availability of floral resources is crucial for honey bee colonies because it allows them to obtain protein from pollen and carbohydrates from nectar; typically, they consume these nutrients in the form of bee bread, which has undergone fermentation. However, the intensification of agriculture, urbanization, changes to the topography, and harsh environmental conditions are currently impacting foraging sites due to habitat loss and scarcity of food resources. Thus, this study aimed to assess honey bee preference for various pollen substitute diet compositions. Bee colonies perform poorly because of specific environmental problems, which ultimately result in pollen scarcity. Pollen substitutes located at various distance from the bee hive were also investigated in addition to determining the preferences of honey bees for various pollen substitute diets. The local honey bee (Apis mellifera jemenitica) colonies and different diets (four main treatments, namely, chickpea flour, maize flour, sorghum flour, wheat flour; each flour was further mixed with cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, flour only, flour mixed with both cinnamon and turmeric powder) were used. Bee pollen was used as a control. The best performing pollen substitutes were further placed at 10, 25, and 50 m distances from the apiary. Maximum bee visits were observed on bee pollen (210 ± 25.96) followed by chickpea flour only (205 ± 19.32). However, there was variability in the bee visits to the different diets (F (16,34) = 17.91; p < 0.01). In addition, a significant difference in diet consumption was observed in control (576 ± 58.85 g) followed by chickpea flour only (463.33 ± 42.84 g), compared to rest of the diets (F (16,34) = 29.75; p < 0.01). Similarly, foraging efforts differed significantly (p < 0.01) at the observed time of 7-8 A.M., 11-12 A.M., and 4-5 P.M. at the distance of 10, 25, and 50 m away from the apiary. Honey bees preferred to visit the food source that was closest to the hive. This study should be very helpful for beekeepers in supplementing their bee colonies when there is a shortage or unavailability of pollens, and it is much better to keep the food source near the apiary. Future research needs to highlight the effect of these diets on bee health and colony development.

Effects of Different Parts of the Rose Flower on the Development, Fecundity, and Life Parameters of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is an important horticultural pest that causes serious damage to rose plants, which is one of its preferred foods. In this study, rose petals, rose flowers, and 10% honey solution + kidney bean pods were chosen as foods to assess their influence on the growth, development and fecundity of F. occidentalis. The results showed that developmental time of immature F. occidentalis with the following trend: rose flowers <10% honey solution + kidney bean pods < rose petals < kidney bean pods. The longevities of both female and male adults were lowest when feeding on the rose petals and were highest when feeding on rose flowers. The fecundity was in the following order: rose flowers >10% honey solution + kidney bean pods > rose petals > kidney bean pods. The net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of F. occidentalis feeding on rose petals and kidney bean pods were lower than those feeding on rose flowers and 10% honey solution + kidney bean pods. The development, longevity, fecundity, and parameters have significantly changed since F1 generation after feeding with the three food types. The results indicated that different parts of rose flowers had a significant effect on the development of thrips, and nectar and pollen had a positive effect on thrips population increase and reproduction.

Changes in Vitellogenin (Vg) and Stress Protein (HSP 70) in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) Groups under Different Diets Linked with Physico-Chemical, Antioxidant and Fatty and Amino Acid Profiles

Honey bee colonies are often subjected to diseases, nutrition quality, temperature and other stresses depending on environmental and climatic conditions. As a result of malnutrition, the level of Vg protein decreases, leading to overwintering losses. The Vg values must be high for a successful wintering, especially before wintering. If good nutrition is not reached, the long winter period may cause an increase in colony losses. Supplementary feeding is essential for colony sustainability when floral resources are insufficient, as in recent years with the emerging climate changes. Furthermore, quality food sources or nutrients are significant for maintaining honey bee health and longevity. This study examined the changes in HSP 70 and Vg proteins in 6 groups of 48 colonies fed with five different nutrients. The fatty acids that are present in the highest amount in Cistus creticus (Pink rock-rose), Papaver somniferum (Opium poppy) and mixed pollen samples were linoleic, palmitic and cis-9-oleic acids. The highest values in proline, lysine and glutamic acid were determined in C. creticus pollen. Regarding the P. somniferum pollen, the highest values were observed in lysine, proline, glutamic and aspartic acids. The highest values in lysine, proline, leucine and aspartic acid were noticed in mixed pollen. The effect of different feeding on Vg protein in nurse and forager bee samples was higher in the mixed pollen group in the fall period. In nurse bees, the mixed pollen group was followed by Cistus creticus pollen > Papaver somniferum pollen > sugar syrup > commercial bee cake > control group, respectively (p < 0.05). In forager bees, the order was mixed pollen, P. somniferum pollen, C. creticus pollen, commercial bee cake, sugar syrup and control. In the early spring period, the Vg levels were high in the mixed pollen group in the nurse bees and the commercial bee cake group in the forager bees. In the fall period, the HSP 70 value of the forager and nurse bees was the lowest in the C. creticus group (p < 0.05). In early spring, the active period of flora, a statistical difference was found between the treatment groups.