Abstract
Simple Summary Pollens being the primary source of protein, lipids, vitamins, and minerals are vital for bee development and reproduction. A major issue confronting beekeeping is developing strong and healthy honey bee colonies. The possibility of prosperous honey bee colonies depends on an effective pollen substitute especially when pollen supply is scarce during the dearth period. Many beekeepers feed their bees different pollen substitutes with sufficient nutrition throughout the period of inadequate pollen quantity or quality. We delivered four different pollen substitutes (chickpea, maize, sorghum, and wheat flour) and natural pollen to honey bee colonies for comparison. Each flour was mixed with a small quantity of cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, and both powders. Further, to investigate the preferred pollen foraging distance from the hives, the best performing pollen substitutes were placed at various distances of 10, 25, and 50 m from the apiary. Chickpea flour (comparatively rich in protein content) located very close to the apiary was the best pollen substitute among the tested flours. This study is very helpful for beekeepers in supplementing their bee colonies when there is a shortage or unavailability of pollens, and it is much better to keep the food source near the apiary. The availability of floral resources is crucial for honey bee colonies because it allows them to obtain protein from pollen and carbohydrates from nectar; typically, they consume these nutrients in the form of bee bread, which has undergone fermentation. However, the intensification of agriculture, urbanization, changes to the topography, and harsh environmental conditions are currently impacting foraging sites due to habitat loss and scarcity of food resources. Thus, this study aimed to assess honey bee preference for various pollen substitute diet compositions. Bee colonies perform poorly because of specific environmental problems, which ultimately result in pollen scarcity. Pollen substitutes located at various distance from the bee hive were also investigated in addition to determining the preferences of honey bees for various pollen substitute diets. The local honey bee (Apis mellifera jemenitica) colonies and different diets (four main treatments, namely, chickpea flour, maize flour, sorghum flour, wheat flour; each flour was further mixed with cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, flour only, flour mixed with both cinnamon and turmeric powder) were used. Bee pollen was used as a control. The best performing pollen substitutes were further placed at 10, 25, and 50 m distances from the apiary. Maximum bee visits were observed on bee pollen (210 +/- 25.96) followed by chickpea flour only (205 +/- 19.32). However, there was variability in the bee visits to the different diets (F (16,34) = 17.91; p < 0.01). In addition, a significant difference in diet consumption was observed in control (576 +/- 58.85 g) followed by chickpea flour only (463.33 +/- 42.84 g), compared to rest of the diets (F (16,34) = 29.75; p < 0.01). Similarly, foraging efforts differed significantly (p < 0.01) at the observed time of 7-8 A.M., 11-12 A.M., and 4-5 P.M. at the distance of 10, 25, and 50 m away from the apiary. Honey bees preferred to visit the food source that was closest to the hive. This study should be very helpful for beekeepers in supplementing their bee colonies when there is a shortage or unavailability of pollens, and it is much better to keep the food source near the apiary.
Future research needs to highlight the effect of these diets on bee health and colony development.