The aim of this work is to study the effect of different feeding technology of honey bee colonies (pollen supplements and substitutes - nectar substitutes) on some worker’s glands (physiological and biological diameters) and also its effect on colonies productivity, aiming at supply the Egyptian beekeepers with the best feeding treatments to solve honeybee nutrition problems for increasing the colonies production. Experiments were conducted at the apiary of Fac. Agric., Moshtohor, Benha Univ., during the years 2009 and 2010.
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
5.1. Test of different types of honeybee feeders
5.1.1. Nectar substitute consumption using different feeders
Four types of honeybee feeders were used i.e. Boardman feeder, combination feeder, division board feeder and top frame feeder.
The obtained results indicated that the highest mean of nectar substitute consumption was recorded when the combination feeder was used, followed by division board feeder.
On reverse, the lowest mean consumption of nectar substitute was observed when Boardman feeder was applied during the two years of investigation (2009 and 2010).
5.1.2. Effect of different feeders on worker’s brood rearing activity
The highest mean of worker’s sealed brood area was observed when Boardman feeder was used. Whereas, the lowest mean of worker’s sealed brood area was observed when the division board feeder was used.
Application of Boardman feeder increased brood rearing in honey bee colonies followed by the combination feeder. In addition, the top frame feeder was more beneficial than the division brood feeder and less than the Boardman and the combination feeders in brood rearing activity. This trend of results was observed in two years under investigation 2009 and 2010.
5.1.3. Effect of using different feeder types on honey storing
The highest mean area of honey was obtained when the Top frame feeder was used followed by Division Brood feeder, combination feeder and Boardman feeder.
The results clearly indicated that the honey storing activity with honeybee worker’s was increased by increasing the nectar substitute consumption. This trend of results was observed in two years under investigation 2009 and 2010.
5.2. Effect of artificial feeding on some honeybee worker’s glands
5.2.1. Hypopharyngeal (HPG) development
Results indicated that the diet number seven which consists of fresh pollen, yoghurt and powdered sugar gave the highest development of hypopharyngeal gland followed by the diet number four which consists of soybean flour, powdered yeast, sweet potato and powdered sugar.
Except the control treatment, at the second year 2010, data indicated that the smallest hypopharyngeal glands acini surface was observed when honeybee colonies fed with the diet number one which consists of soybean flour and powdered sugar at all under investigation periods (3, 6, 9, 12 and18 days), whereas after 15 days the hypopharyngeal glands acini surface was smallest when honeybee colonies fed with the diet number five which consists of fenugreek flour, sweet potato and powdered sugar.
Hypopharyngeal glands acini surface of honeybee worker’s was high when honeybee colonies fed with the pollen substitute number seven followed by the pollen supplement number four. This trend of results was observed in two years under investigation 2009 and 2010.
5.2.2. Wax glands
Results indicated that the best protein diet in the development of wax glands and wax mirrors diameters was pollen substitute number 9soybean flour + powdered yeast) in the first year of study 2009 while the best diet in the second year 2010 was pollen supplement number 7 (fresh pollen + yoghurt).
Results also indicated that the best age of honey bee worker for wax gland development was 16 day/old.
5.2.3. Venom gland
This experiment was carried out to determine which of the used protein diets was more effective in honey bee worker venom gland development. Pollen substitute number 4 gave the highest length of acidic gland in two years, the pollen supplement number 7 gave the highest diameters development of venom sac in the first year of study 2009 while in the second year 2010 the best diet was number 6.
Results also showed that the best age of honey bee worker in the acidic gland was at 18/ day old and the best age in the venom sac diameters was at 24/ day old during the two years of study.
5.3. Effect of different nectar substitutes on honey bee sealed brood area
The application of the nectar substitute number four which consists of sugar syrup (50%) + V.sol® + citrus juice, gave higher sealed brood area activity during two years under study 2009 and 2010 than other used nectar substitutes. On the other hand, when honey bee colonies fed with pollen substitute number five which consists of sugar syrup (50%) + V.sol® + tomato juice the honey bee workers sealed brood was decreased.
Results indicated that honey bee workers sealed brood area activity was higher in the first year than in the second year. Also, the sealed brood area activity was higher in August than in July and September, this trend of results was observed in two years under investigation 2009 and 2010.
5.4. Monthly pollen substitutes and supplements consumption in honey bee colonies
The monthly pollen substitutes and supplements consumption was increased when honey bee colonies were fed with pollen supplement number two which contain date palm and milk. The same results were observed with application of this pollen supplement during all months of year.
On the other hand, data emphasize that the monthly consumption in honey bee colonies was decreased with the application of pollen supplements number one and three which contains soybean flour, powdered yeast and sweet potato, respectively, this trend of results was observed in two years under investigation 2009 and 2010.
5.5. Sealed brood area
Results emphasize that when honey bee colonies fed with pollen supplement number seven which contain fresh pollen and yoghurt, the sealed brood area was higher than the other used pollen supplements.
On reveres, the lowest sealed brood area activity was observed when honey bee colonies fed with pollen substitute number five which contain fenugreek flower and sweet potato. This trend of results was obtained during two years (2009 and 2010).
5.6. Effect of pollen supplements and substitutes on honey bee workers longevity
During 2009, the longest longevity of honeybee worker was observed when honeybee colonies were fed with the pollen supplement number seven followed by the pollen substitute number four. But, in 2010 the pollen substitute number four was better than pollen supplement number seven.
Except control treatment, the shortest longevity of honeybee workers was observed when honeybee colonies fed with the pollen supplement number one which consists of soybean flour and powdered sugar. This trend of results was observed during the two years of study (2009 and 2010).
5.7. Effect of different pollen substitutes and supplements on honeybee worker’s fresh body weight
Data showed that feeding bees on pollen supplement number seven which contains of fresh pollen and yoghurt gave the highest mean of worker’s body weight and it followed by pollen substitute number four which contains soybean flour, powdered yeast and sweet potato.
The lowest month for worker’s body weight was September while the highest month was February. The worker’s body weight increased gradually from September to February as a result from receiving pollen substitutes or supplements. This trend of results was observed during two years of investigation (2009 and 2010).
5.8. Effect of different protein diets on pollen gathering and storing activity by honey bee workers.
Results showed that the best pollen flow season in Egypt was corn season during the two years of study. Also, it was found that the best diet in increasing honey bee activity in pollen gathering and storing (bee bread) was pollen substitute number 4 during the two years of study.
5.9. Effect of different protein diets on percentage of accepted queen cells.
Results indicated that the best percentage of accepted queen cells by gathering method was when bees received pollen substitute number 4 during the two years of study.
5.10. Effect of different pollen supplements and substitutes on weight of virgin queens.
The highest weight of virgin queen produced by grafting method was when the colonies received pollen substitute number 4 in the two years of study. Results also indicated that there were significant differences between used diets and control (sugar syrup only).
5.11. Effect of different pollen supplements and substitutes on Royal Jelly production
Results indicated that the highest amount of royal jelly was recorded by colonies received pollen substitute number 4 in two year 2009 and 2010. Also, results showed that the highest amounts of royal jelly was in April and March (citrus flow season) and in June followed by May (clover flow season) in the first year 2009 and second year 2010, respectively.
5.12. Effect of different nectar substitutes on the population change and wax production in honey bee colonies.
Results revealed that the highest increase in honey bee combs (bee population) was in honey bee colonies which received nectar substitute containing sugar syrup 50%, V.sol® and citrus juice, these results were observed during the two years 2009 and 2010.
Also, results showed that colonies which received nectar substitute contained sugar syrup 50%, V.sol® and citrus juice gave the highest weight of wax production, the same trend of results was found during 2009 and 2010.
5.13. Effect of feeding honey bee with different pollen supplements and substitutes on honey production
The highest amounts of citrus honey during 2009 and 2010 was extracted from colonies fed on pollen supplement number seven and pollen substitute number four, respectively.
Results showed that the highest amounts of clover honey in the year 2009 were extracted from colonies fed on pollen substitute number 4. Whereas, in the year 2010 the honey bee colonies fed on the pollen substitute number 6 gave the highest amounts of clover honey production followed by colonies fed on pollen supplement number seven.
5.14. Effect of different pollen substitutes and supplements on honey combs production.
Results indicated that the best colonies in honey combs production were colonies which received pollen substitute number 4 and pollen substitute number 6 in the years 2009 1nd 2010, respectively. Results also indicated that the honey bee was more active in producing honey combs in the year 2010 than in the year 2009
5.15. Effect of feeding types on honey production in commercial apiaries.
The results revealed that the highest honey production was recorded in Kafr Shokr 2 apiary which provided with heavy sugar syrup during nectar flow seasons. The second highest amounts of honey was produced in Kafr Elwan apiary which provided with different types of pollen substitutes, pollen supplements and nectar substitutes through the year.
On the other hand, the lowest amounts of honey production was in Meet Kenana apiary which fed on sugar syrup only through the year.
5.16. Economic values for using pollen and nectar substitutes on honey bee colonies
From the simple economic study which recorded in this study it could be mentioned that the net income from honey yield only was about 100 £E in commercial (traditional) apiaries while it was obviously higher in the recommended apiary (about 249 £E in the year).
Summing up, the obtained results clearly indicated that the use of combination new designed feeder obviously increased the pollen supplements and substitutes and all honeybee workers activities. Also, feeding honeybee colonies with diet number seven and four which consists of fresh pollen, yoghurt and powdered sugar as a pollen supplement in proved honeybee colonies activities specially growth rate of worker’s glands.
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