Nutritional composition of Apis mellifera adansonii L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from three ecological zones of Nigeria

Abstract

The honey bee is an important economic and domesticated insect. This insect has been gaining attention as a potential nutritional source in different parts of the world. This study therefore evaluated the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of the tissue of honey bees, Apis mellifera adansonii, from the rainforest, guinea savannah and derived savannah zones of Nigeria. Honey bee samples were collected from fully colonised colonies of two different apiaries each from the rainforest, guinea and derived savannah zones of Nigeria for chemical analyses. Proximate, minerals composition, vitamin and secondary metabolites composition were estimated using standard methods. The levels of proximate compositions (fat, ash, crude fibre, crude protein and carbohydrate contents), minerals, vitamins and secondary metabolites recorded in the honey bees from the three ecological zones were not significantly different. Potassium, chloride and calcium respectively were higher in the honey bee tissue than the other minerals tested. However, the level of phytate was higher in the honey bee samples than the regulatory safe level. Based on the results of this study, honey bees from the studied ecological zones of Nigeria are equally nutritious.