EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING ON BUILD–UP OF HONEYBEE COLONIES

Abstract

In the present investigation,the effect of supplementary feeding on build-up of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies was studied during two years of 2014/2015-2015/2016. Eight experimentsin depending on carbohydrates and proteins diets were design and conducted at theapiary of Plant Protection Research Institute at El-Quanater, Qaluobia Governorate and the apiary of Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. The results were as follows: 5.1.Effect of feeding on sugar syrup plus pollen cake as a natural protein source, Brewer,s yeast cake and plus chick pea fortified with pollen as a protein supplement and plain Brewer,s yeast cake as a protein substitute on brood rearing, stored honey and pollen, during Spring season of 2014. It was found that feeding honeybee colonies on Brewer,s yeast-Chick pea cake supported bypollen as a protein supplement in addition to sugar syrup(1:1) at 3 day intervals for two month of spring season (25/3 – 29/5/2014) produced more broods with a higher brood rearing rate, stored honey and pollen than the other feeding regimes in the experiment. 5.2. Effect of feeding sugar syrup addend with pollen grains or some plant extracts during summer season of (17/6/2014-21/8/2014). It was found that the addition of pollen or medicinal plant extracts to sugar syrup caused more brood with a higher brood rearing rate and stored honey and pollenduring fall summer season till the end of experiment on (17/6 - 21/08/2014).

5.3.Effect of feeding honeybee colonies on dried sugar or sugar syrup with different concentrations at different intervals during winter season of (1/12/2014 - 5/2/2015). It was found that feeding honeybee colonies during winter season (2014 -2015)on the different amount of high concentrated sugar syrup (2:1) and at different intervals (3 day or one week)produced more brood rearing rates and stored honey and pollen than other feeding regimes. 5.4. Effect of feeding on sugar syrup fortified with vitamins to the honeybee colonies on their worker brood rearing and stored honey and pollen, during spring season of (30/3/2015 - 3/6/2015). It was found that feeding honeybee colonies during spring season of (30/3/2015-3/6/2015), on sugar syrup (1:1) fortified with Royal star or supravit vitamin significantly surpassed their brood rearing rates,stored honey and pollen than the other feeding regimes. 5.5. Effect of feeding the honeybee colonies on stored clover pollen pellets and honey cake as a natural protein and carbohydrate sources on their activities and worker longevity during summer season of (24/6/2015---28/8/2015). It was found that feeding honey bee colonies on cake of El-Quanater fresh clover pollen pellets and honey as fresh natural protein and honey sources beside feeding on a medium concentrated sugar syrup at 3 day intervals for two months of summer season (24/6 – 28/8/2015) significantly came the first in order in brood rearing rates,stored honey and pollen and longevity of caged newly emerged worker bees.

5.6.Effect of feeding honeybee colonies on plain sugar