Effects of diet composition on consumption, live body weight and life span of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Abstract

Due to current threats such as climate change, emerging diseases, and agricultural chemical use, honey bees are struggling to obtain adequate uncontaminated nectar and pollen for survival. Under these conditions, beekeepers feed their colonies with pollen and honey substitutes. In this study, several experimental diets were examined and compared with pollen and honey substitutes used by the beekeepers. The effects of the diets on consumption, live body weight and lifespan of groups of adult worker honey bees were investigated under laboratory conditions. "Natural-like" diet was used as control. Solid food with different amounts of protein and enzymatically prepared liquid food, enzymatically prepared liquid food with added caffeine, colored non-enzymatically prepared liquid food were tested. Pollen substitute protein levels were 0.4 to 10%. Solid food with low protein diet was consumed less, and resulted in low live body weight and low survival in comparison to control and higher protein amounts. Bees fed with enzymatically prepared liquid food with added caffeine group showed more activity but did not attain significantly higher survival ratio than bees fed only enzymatically prepared liquid food. This study discusses role of protein content and food preparation in the management of honey bee colonies. © 2021, ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary.