Nutritional Effects of Some Pollen Types on Hypopharyngeal and Acid Glands in Honeybee Workers (Apis Mellifera L.)

Abstract

Pollen had a wide range of effects on honey bee. Caged honey bee workers were used to determine the nutritional effects of four main types of pollen collected by honey bee colonies from the study area on the food consumption rates, the development of the hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) acini and acid gland (AG) sacs in honey bee workers. Additionally, chemical analysis of the selected pollen types was performed. Pollen diets were as follows: broad bean pollen, date palm pollen, clover pollen, maize pollen and mixture of the for mentioned types beside the control pollen diet. The highest mean consumption was observed between 4th and 6th of day aged bees in all diets (23.05 mg./bee/3days). The highest quantity of food consumption was recorded in the 18th day when the workers were fed on date palm pollen (75.42 mg), while the lowest recorded 59.17 mg from maize pollen treatment. The highest mean acinal surface area of HPG was 0.0451mm2, which measured at 9 days-old of bees in all diets. While the workers fed on mixture pollen diet had the highest significant mean recorded the acinal surface area of HPG 0.0450mm2 comparing of 0.0223mm2 in control. The considering increment in average volume of acid gland sac with had been obtained at 18 days-old (0.7276mm3) that resembles the highest significant degree, the greatest mean volume of AG sacs was observed when bees were fed on broad bean pollen (0.6419mm3), while the lowest mean was 0.3643mm3 in control.

Vital responses of caged honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers fed on new substitute diets in the laboratory

“…The initial rise in consumption rates compared to the last recorded ones for both diets can be attributed to the progressive mortality in caged individuals. Eshbah et al (2021) have observed that diet consumption was highest in day 6 for old bees across all diets. Diets consumption gradually decreased from day 9 for old bees till the end of the experiment No doubt that, supplementary nutrition has a vital role in preserving survival rates.…”

Influence of natural pollen sources on the morphological parameters of honey bee, Apis mellifera L. sting apparatus

“…Also, workers fed on mixed pollen diet had the best average acinal surface area of HPG followed by those fed on broad bean pollen and corn pollen with similar degrees then followed by those fed on date palm and maize, respectively. Whereas bees fed on sugar solution only (control) had the lowest acinal surface area of HPG compared with other pollen diets, with statistically significant differences (Eshbah et al, 2021). also, Lan et al (2021) Pollen sources have significant effects on the stinger apparatus in worker honey bees.…”

“…This finding suggests that the pollen source can influence the size and development of the venom sac parameters in honey bees. Also, Hosafy et al, (2021) reported that feeding honey bees on a mixture of pollen diet and a broad bean pollen diet resulted in better results than others in the development of HPG and AG.…”

“…Moreover, pollen protein is critical for the development of honey bee muscles, glands, and other tissues (Dietz et al, 1979). Also, Hosafy et al (2021) reported that feeding honey bees a mixture of pollen diet and a broad bean pollen diet resulted in better results than others in the development of HPG and AG. Honeybees use their sting as a defense to inject approximately 0.1 mg of venom into the victim (Sanad & Mohanny, 2013).…”