Beekeeping: Science updates

  Science updates: Survival of honey bees & effects of pollen and beebread   The study involved feeding worker bees six different diets: sucrose solution (control), sucrose solution with amino acids, sucrose solution with rapeseed pollen, artificial rapeseed beebread, sucrose solution with willow pollen, and artificial willow beebread. After 17 days, the survival rates were highest in bees fed diets containing pollen or beebread, with the lowest mortality observed in bees consuming sucrose solution with willow pollen or artificial beebread.   Biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl groups (PCG), catalase (CAT), and lysozyme activities, were evaluated. Bees fed pollen or beebread showed increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, particularly lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation. However, this increase was not detrimental to survival, suggesting that the biomarkers reflect change...

  Science updates: Honey bee pollen in meagre: Effects on honey bees   The study involved 360 meagre juveniles, which were divided into four groups and fed diets containing different levels of HBP (0%, 1%, 2.5%, and 4%). The growth performance, diet digestibility, intestinal morphology, and biochemical blood profiles of the fish were assessed. Additionally, the concentration of mineral trace and toxic elements in the pollen and diets was determined.   The results indicated that the inclusion of HBP in the diet negatively affected growth performance and diet digestibility in a dose-dependent manner. Fish fed diets with higher levels of HBP showed reduced growth, lower feed conversion ratios, and decreased protein efficiency ratios. Histological analysis revealed intestinal alterations, particularly in the group fed the diet with the highest HBP inclusion (4%), suggesting an inflammatory response. Immunohistochemical detection of TNF-α and increased levels of HS...

  Science updates: Food availability, pathogen exposure, & genetic of honey bees The study found that the degree of genetic diversity typically found in honey bee colonies does not predict thermoregulatory stability. Additionally, the social fever response is not a simple reflex but is influenced by ambient temperature conditions. A temperature-based circadian rhythm was observed under high nectar flow conditions, suggesting a more complex thermoregulatory system in honey bees than previously understood.   The researchers set up seven observation hives with approximately 1,600 honey bees and a newly introduced queen in each. They measured in-hive temperatures and estimated genetic diversity through genotyping. The study revealed that colonies with naturally mated queens (ranging from 20 to 37 matings) did not show a significant correlation between genetic diversity and thermoregulatory stability. However, a significant temperature-based circadian rhythm emerged d...

  Science updates: Vitellogenin, abdominal lipid content, & hypopharyngeal gland in honey bees   The study investigates the impact of different protein sources on the physiological characteristics and dietary consumption of honey bees (Apis mellifera). The research is crucial as it addresses the nutritional needs of honey bees, which are essential pollinators and play a vital role in the ecosystem. The study was carried out in Muş Province, Türkiye, during the summer and fall seasons, focusing on the formulation of a pollen substitute diet due to the decreasing availability of natural pollen sources.   The researchers examined six different protein sources for the diets: pollen, spirulina dust (Arthrospira platensis Gomont), fresh egg yolk, lyophilized lactose-free skimmed milk powder, active fresh yeast, and ApiProtein. The study found that worker bees consumed the diet supplemented with spirulina (diet II) the most. Although there was no statistical diff...