Evaluation of Nutritive Value of Some Medical Plants for Honey Bee Colonies (Apis mellifera L.).

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different feeding treatments of some medical plantson brood production, population development of honey bee colonies and storage honey. Seven feeding treatments were carried out during March 2016to July2016. The feeding treatments were (sugar bush leaves (Stevia rebaudiana), moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) in honey syrup (67%), tomatillo/jamberry (Physalis peruviara) in honey syrup (67%), guava (Psidium guava) in honey syrup (67%), coriander (Coriandrum sativum) in honey syrup (60%), honey syrup (67%) and sugar syrup (1 sugar:1 water).Colonies were equalized in number of frames covered with bees and brood areas and had young fertilized queen bees of the same age. Feeding was conducted at 10-day intervals with 500 ml syrup/colony of each treatment. The brood production and population development were recorded at 30 day-intervals. It was shown that brood production was significant highest in the honeybee colonies which fed on coriander, tomatillo/jamberry, guava and sugar syrup without significant deterrence between them (7083.17, 5652.58, 5287.08 and 6321.67 brood areas (Cm2)/colony), respectively. Population development and honey storage were significant highest in honeybee colonies which fed on coriander (9.17 frames bees/colony and 4.50 frames honey/colony). The group fed on sugar bush and moringa syrup significantly did not increase brood area and honey bee population as compared with other groups.