Assessment a new pollen supplement diet for honey bee colonies and their effects on some biological activities

Abstract

New pollen supplement diet, the main components of orange juice, mint oil, Turmeric and Fenugreek powders and vitamins (diet E) was prepared by us. It compared with some traditional pollen supplement diets, A (Soybean flour + Brewer ̓s yeast+ powdered sugar + sugar syrup), B (diet A+ date pollen grains), C (diet A+ bee honey) and D (date pollen grains +powdered sugar + sugar syrup). Some biological activities, areas of sealed worker brood, mean number of combs covered with bees and consumption rates and honey yield of the tested colonies were evaluated. The obtained results showed that, there were clearly significant differences between the all tested diets and control in the mean of worker brood area during the experimental period of February and March. Diet E recorded the highest value in comparison with either the control or the other tested diets. Colonies fed with diet B and diet E resulted in the highest number of combs covered with bees being the highest with diet E. Colonies fed with diet E consumed a higher amount /2 weeks interval, with no residues of patty, than the other tested diets during the experimental period. According to the honey yield, the colonies which feed on a new artificial diet (E) produced a highly amount of citrus honey in comparison with the other tested diets and control. Application of new diet (E) as a pollen supplement diet induced the highest biological activities, consumption rate and honey yield.