Abstract
In recent time, it has become a common practice to use different kinds of starch syrups available on the market as a winter food for bees. However, the physicochemical composition of these syrups and their suitability for winter feeding of honeybee colonies are still insufficiently investigated. Therefore, our study analyzed the composition of three commercially available starch syrups, inverted saccharose syrup and homemade saccharose syrups, and tested winter stores processed by bees from these syrups. The following physicochemical parameters were investigated: water, sugars composition, maltodextrins (DP4–DP7) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, pH and free acidity, as well as electrical conductivity. We found that the sugar composition of starch syrups ensures the suitable sugar composition of winter stores processed by the bees from these syrups. Winter stores compared to fresh syrups had a high content of total fructose and glucose (50 g/100 g), and some amounts of maltose (15 g/100 g), maltotriose (4 g/100 g), and maltodextrins (4 g/100 g). The small percentage of maltodextrins is responsible for maintaining the liquid consistency of the winter stores in honeybee combs during storage. Water content not exceeding 17.2% and adequate pH value (around 4.00) guarantee the stability of winter stores during storage in honeybee combs. A HMF content of up to 50 mg/kg was safe for bee colonies during wintering.
Highlights
Appropriate nutrition plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of healthy and strong bee colonies
Some of the physicochemical parameters of the starch syrups (Apifortune, Apikel 20, and Apifood) and inverted saccharose syrup (Apiinvert) recommended as winter food for bee colonies used in our study (Tables 1–4) slightly differed from the values declared by the manufacturers on the product labels, as described by Semkiw and Skubida [12]
The studied syrups were characterized by a slightly lower water content. These differences were found in the composition of sugars, maltose, and maltotriose in the starch syrups, and in saccharose for inverted sucrose sugars
Summary
Appropriate nutrition plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of healthy and strong bee colonies. A syrup with a higher water content may start to ferment before bees feed on it. Dry matter should mainly consist of glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Syrups with a predominance of glucose over fructose content pose a potential risk of crystallization in honeybee combs during winter. Syrups made from starch usually contain high levels of maltose and maltotriose, from which glucose is formed due to the activity of bee enzymes [9]. The hydrolysis of these two sugars increases glucose content in winter stores. A long and cold winter with no possibility to fly may lead to cases of colony loss due to excessive load in bees’ recta
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