The effect of different levels of protein and fat on dietary preference and survival of western honey bees workers, Apis mellifera L.

Abstract

This study was conducted at the bee laboratory in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Kufa to investigate the possibility of using artificial feeding with protein and fat as an alternative to pollen. The study also aimed to examine the preference of nurse honey bees for artificial feeding mixtures and their consumption compared to a sugar solution (Sucrose 1 M ), and finally to determine the effect of feeding mixtures on the lifespan of nurse bee workers. The results showed that the highest consumption rate of nurse honey bees was in the control treatment (Sucrose 1 M ) at 72.57 microliter /bee /day, while the lowest consumption rate was 27.70 microliter /bee /day in the treatment (15:1 P: F). The consumption rates in the treatments (0:1 P:F), (1:1 P: F), (5:1 P: F ), and (10:1 P: F) were 64.80, 47.24, 44.70, and 32.42 microliter /bee /day, respectively. The results also revealed that the highest survival rate was in the control treatment (Sucrose 1 M) at 96.25%, while the treatment (0:1 P: F) had the lowest survival rate at 67.50%. The survival rates in the treatments (1:1 P: F), (5:1 P: F), (10:1 P: F), and (15:1 P: F) were 81.25%, 73.75%, 83.75%, and 86.25%, respectively.