Abstract
We examined the consumption rate of protein diets in caged and free-flying honey bees, amino acid composition of diets, and diet effects on gland development. The effect of seven different diets (sugar solution only, Feedbee®, Helianthus pollen, Sinapis pollen, Asparagus pollen, Castanea pollen, and mixed pollen diet) on the development of the hypopharyngeal (HPG) and acid glands (AG) was tested in caged honey bees. Caged bees consumed the protein diet mainly at the age of 1–8 days, with the highest consumption rate on day 3. Different diets affected the development of both glands. The acini of HPG attained their maximum size in caged bees at an age of 5 days. Bees fed with Castanea sp., Asparagus sp., or mixed pollen had the largest glands among all test groups of this age. The AG sacs of caged bees grew in size between 5 and 12 days and were at day 18 less affected by different protein diets. Castanea sp. and mixed pollen diets were preferably consumed in free-flying colonies.
Highlights
Pollen is the main source of protein for adult bees, and its protein content and quality influence the lifespan and performance of honey bee colonies (Brodschneider and Crailsheim 2010; Nicolson 2011)
The acini of the hypopharyngeal glands (HPG) grew in size until the bees reached an age of 5 days, with the maximum developed HPGs, and began to shrink afterwards (Figure 2a)
The volume of the acid glands (AG) sac started to grow at age 5 and was significantly bigger after 9 days compared to younger bees (Figure 2b, P < 0.05, Welch analysis of variance (ANOVA))
Summary
Pollen is the main source of protein for adult bees, and its protein content and quality influence the lifespan and performance of honey bee colonies (Brodschneider and Crailsheim 2010; Nicolson 2011). Poorquality pollen leads to inferior weight gain and less protein or nitrogen content, reduced longevity, and an incomplete development of hypopharyngeal glands (HPG), which in turn reduces royal jelly production, that could impair growth of the larvae and queen (Kunert and Crailsheim 1988; Zaytoon et al 1988; Schmidt et al 1995; Brodschneider and Crailsheim 2010). The HPG of nurse bees produce a protein-rich food called royal jelly. This food is fed to queen, larvae, drones, and other workers (Crailsheim 1991). DeGrandi-Hoffman et al (2010) measured protein concentrations in the head and the development of HPG in worker honey bees that had been fed either patties of mixed pollen, a protein supplement, or food lacking protein (sugar solution). Bees that were fed only with a sugar solution had lower concentrations of protein and smaller HPG, as compared with bees fed with the other diets
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