Influence of Pollen Diet in Spring on Development of Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies

Abstract

The effects of changes in spring pollen diet on the development of honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), colonies were examined in a 3-yr study (2002-2004). Pollen-supplemented and pollen-limited conditions were created in colonies every spring, and brood rearing and honey yields were subsequently monitored throughout the summer. In all 3 yr, colonies that were supplemented with pollen or a pollen substitute in the spring started rearing brood earlier than colonies in other treatment groups and produced the most workers by late April or early May. In 2002, these initial differences were reflected by a two-fold increase in annual honey yields by September for colonies that were pollen-supplemented during the spring compared with pollen-limited colonies. In 2003 and 2004, differences between treatment groups in the cumulative number of workers produced by colonies disappeared by midsummer, and all colonies had similar annual honey yields (exception: in one year, productivity was low for colonies supplemented with pollen before wintering). Discrepancies between years coincided with differences in spring weather conditions. Colonies supplemented with pollen or a substitute during the spring performed similarly in all respects. These results indicate that an investment in supplementing the pollen diet of colonies would be returned for situations in which large spring populations are important, but long-term improvement in honey yields may only result when spring foraging is severely reduced by inclement weather. Beekeepers should weigh this information against the nutritional deficiencies that are frequently generated in colonies by the stresses of commercial management.

The effects of pollen availability during larval development on the behaviour and physiology of spring-reared honey bee workers

“…Even as foraging opportunities increase in frequency, periods of inclement weather can disrupt pollen intake for several days, inducing brood cannibalism as workers run low on pollen reserves (Dustmann and Von der Ohe, 1988;Schmickl and Crailsheim, 2001). We have recently suggested in a three-year study that colonies tailor worker production to pollen supply in the spring (Mattila and Otis, 2006). Depending on annual conditions, colonies that received additional pollen or pollen substitutes during the spring produced between 5 900 to 18 500 more workers per colony by May compared to colonies that had their winter pollen reserves artificially reduced (Mattila and Otis, 2006).…”

“…We have recently suggested in a three-year study that colonies tailor worker production to pollen supply in the spring (Mattila and Otis, 2006). Depending on annual conditions, colonies that received additional pollen or pollen substitutes during the spring produced between 5 900 to 18 500 more workers per colony by May compared to colonies that had their winter pollen reserves artificially reduced (Mattila and Otis, 2006). It is clear that increasing the pollen supply in colonies resulted in the production of more workers, but it is not known if improved pollen diet was also reflected in the quality of the workers reared in these colonies.…”

“…It is apparent that colonies respond to the availability of pollen by adjusting the number of workers that are reared (Mattila and Otis, 2006). At this time, there is little information on how the distribution of resources is reflected in individual workers.…”

Fornecimento de substituto de pólen na redução da mortalidade de Apis mellifera L. causada pela Cria Ensacada Brasileira

“…Presente em regiões onde se encontra a planta Stryphnodendron ssp, essa enfermidade pode dizimar apiários inteiros. Embora seu agente causador não seja um vírus (MESSAGE et al, 1995), os sintomas são semelhantes à doença cria ensacada, causada pelo SBV (Sac Brood Virus), comum em vários países (BAILEY & BALL, 1991).…”

“…Um alto nível proteico influencia na longevidade das operárias, quando comparadas a dietas com baixa taxa de proteína no pólen (SOMERVILLE, 2000). Estudos utilizando dieta artificial de pólen durante o inverno induziram aumento da população de crias e de abelhas operárias (MATTILA & OTIS, 2006;AKYOL et al, 2006).…”