Nutritional Considerations in Choosing Protein and Carbohydrate Sources for use in Pollen Substitutes for Honeybees

Abstract

SummarySmall colonies of honeybees (Apis mellifera) were fed for 6 weeks on diets of protein concentration increasing from 5% to 30%, using soya flours and a Torula yeast product, the commonly available pollen substitutes. Either honey or sucrose was used in formulating the diets; sucrose enhanced protein utilization. While no statistical difference was found in brood production at different protein levels, the 5% level of protein may not be as good as the others. All tested supplements and pollen gave the same efficiency of protein utilization at all concentrations. The Torula yeast product sustained brood-rearing longer than the soy flours. Addition of proteolytic enzymes to soya-flour diets had no effect on protein utilization. Colonies fed pollen raised more brood than those fed the test diets, and on the average produced populations about twice as large.