The type of protein supplement or substitute and its location from brood affect honeybee colony performance

Abstract

Honey bee Apis mellifera L. is the main pollinator insect for the most crops worldwide beside the economic importance of its products. Honey bee colonies depend on stored food in their hives to manage the dearth periods successfully. This study compared the effect of three different patties, Bee Fonda ® a pollen supplement (BF), home-made substitute (H) consists of two thirds powdered sugar and one third of powdered yeast, a home-made substitute mixed with Bee Plus ® (BP) and sugar syrup (C) on colonies growth rate. The petties were introduced either between the frames (on a queen excluder of 15x20 cm 2 ) or above the frames. Colonies received BF between the frames had the highest mean of brood area, while colonies of BP between the frames had the highest means of honey and colonies of BP above the frames had the highest mean of bee bread areas. Regardless the patty type, patties located between frames had the highest mean of brood and honey areas, while bee bread areas were not affected. As a general mean of type of bee patties, the BF group had highest mean of brood area and the BP was superior in both of honey and bee bread means areas.