Feeding Colonies Research Articles

Pre-extension Demonstration and Evaluation of Top Feeder Honeybee Feeding Technology at Wolmera Woreda, Oromia Region

To maintain optimum honeybee colony population during dearth of floral resources, feeding of honeybee colonies with supplementary feeds is important. This research activity is conducted with the main objectives to evaluate and demonstrate top feeder technology under farmers’ management and create awareness on the importance of the technology. As to the method, selection of demonstration sites and farmers was purposive due to the reason that the evaluation of the technology requires modern box hive and experience on this hive. Two demonstration sites at two Village Administrations selected and Farmers research groups were used for technology evaluation. One FRG which contain 10-15 beekeepers strengthened at each demonstration site and group apiaries of FRG members used as centers of learning and technology evaluation. At each sites, farmers, development agents and experts trained and experimental colonies established. Honeybee colony follow up and technology evaluation activities undertaken in partnership with these FRG members, development agents and experts. As to the result, by using top feeder, the beekeeper can feed many colonies in short period of time. The average time taken to feed one honeybee colony using top feeder was only 55.85 seconds where as it was 107.26 seconds using plastic bucket under farmer’s management. Moreover, feeding using top feeder also reduced honeybee colonies disturbance during time of feeding. In conclusion, technologies like top feeder that saves beekeepers time and also reduce disturbances of honeybee colony are critical for our beekeepers. Therefore, it is suggested to further pre scale up the technology in other areas

Implications of cell wall immunocytochemical profiles on the structural and functional traits of root and stem galls induced by Eriosoma lanigerum on Malus domestica.

Alterations in cell wall composition imply in new structural and functional traits in gall developmental sites, even when the inducer is a sucking exophytophagous insect with strict feeding sites as the aphid associated to Malus domestica Borkh. This host plant is an economically important, fruit-bearing species, susceptible to gall induction by the sucking aphid Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann, 1802. Herein, the immunocytochemical detection of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), pectins, and hemicelluloses using monoclonal antibodies was performed in samples of non-galled roots and stems, and of root and stem galls on M. domestica. The dynamics of these cell wall components was discussed under the structural and functional traits of the galls proximal, median, and distal regions, according to the proximity of E. lanigerum colony feeding site. In the proximal region, the epitopes of AGPs and homogalacturonans (HGs) are related to cell growth and divisions, which result in the overproduction of parenchyma cells both in root and stem galls. In the proximal and median regions, the co-occurrence of HGs and arabinans in the cell walls of parenchyma and secondary tissues favors the nutrient flow and water-holding capacity, while the xylogalacturonans and hemicelluloses may function as additional carbohydrate resources to E. lanigerum. The immunocytochemical profile of the cell walls support the feeding activity of E. lanigerum mainly in the gall proximal region. The similarity of the cell wall components of the gall distal region and the non-galled portions, both in roots and stems, relates to the decrease of the cecidogenetic field the more distant the E. lanigerum colony is.

Influence of the food protein on the development of hypopharyngeal glands, fat body, quality and lifespan of honeybees

Research on the anatomical and physiological characteristics of bees (the state of fat body, hypopharyngeal glands) in connection with changes in natural and climatic conditions (soil composition, prolonged droughts, prolonged rains, cold weather, environmental disasters) impoverishment of fodder base for bees due to the decrease of sown areas of honey crops leading to the use of bees’ feeding, is relevant. The research aims to study the influence of food protein on the development of hypopharyngeal glands, fat body and life expectancy of honeybees. The zootechnical (the setting of the scientific research, the feeding of the bee families, the power of the bee families, productivity), ethological (orientation in the bee-entrance area), micrometrical (physiological and morphological characteristics of the parts of the bee’s body), microscopic (analysis of hypopharyngeal glands and fat body of bees) and statistical (biometric data processing) methods were used in the study. The significant difference in their degree of development depending on the carbohydrate or protein feeding was identified. After feeding sugar syrup to bees, signs of protein malnutrition and the state of development of hypopharyngeal glands corresponding to the І-ІІ degrees were noted. Alveoli of hypopharyngeal glands were reduced, and underdeveloped, with marked spaces, whereas after feeding protein food in the form of sugar syrup with bee pollen the bees had well-developed hypopharyngeal glands. The alveoli of the hypopharyngeal glands of the researched bees filled out, grew milky, with no space between them, and were able to produce larval food. Such a state of the glands’ development corresponds to the ІV degree of the development of hypopharyngeal glands. The research results indicate that the development of the fat body of bees happens at a young age when bees consume protein food the most. It has been proven that protein feeding of the bee colonies of experimental groups contributed to the better development of hypopharyngeal glands in both old and young bees, which resulted in better provision of food for larvae and more active development of the bee colonies. Protein feeding of bees in early spring under conditions of limited supply of protein food contributes to the production of larger larvae, which in turn contributes to the production of more complete bees

INFLUENCE OF FULVIC ACID ON THE EGG LAYING OF QUEEN BEE IN THE SPRING PERIOD AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF BEE FAMILY

The paper analyzes the effect of a promising additive (BAA) fulvic acid on the reproductive function of queen bees and the productivity of bee layers. A single dose of carbohydrate supplementation (40% sucrase) was 200 ml per family. A total of 12 feedings were carried out with an interval of three days. The effect of the drug on the reproductive function of queen bees was determined by counting the number of printed brood using a grid frame every 12 days. As a result of the research, a positive effect of fulvic acid on the reproductive function of queen bees was established. When using fulvic acid as a spring feeding of bee colonies, a significant increase was established on average by 22.5% over two years of research, and the honey productivity of bee layers increased by 17.7%.

Conditional indirect genetic effects of caregivers on brood in the clonal raider ant.

Caregivers shape the rearing environment of their young. Consequently, offspring traits are influenced by the genes of their caregivers via indirect genetic effects (IGEs). However, the extent to which IGEs are modulated by environmental factors, other than the genotype of social partners (i.e., intergenomic epistasis), remains an open question. Here we investigate how brood are influenced by the genotype of their caregivers in the clonal raider ant, Ooceraea biroi, a species in which the genotype, age and number of both caregivers and brood can be experimentally controlled. First, we used four clonal lines to establish colonies that differed only in the genotype of caregivers and measured effects on foraging activity, as well as IGEs on brood phenotypes. In a second experiment, we tested whether these IGEs are conditional on the age and number of caregivers. We found that caregiver genotype affected the feeding and foraging activity of colonies, and influenced the rate of development, survival, body size, and caste fate of brood. Caregiver genotype interacted with other factors to influence the rate of development and survival of brood, demonstrating that IGEs can be conditional. Thus, we provide an empirical example of phenotypes being influenced by IGE-by-environment interactions beyond intergenomic epistasis, highlighting that IGEs of caregivers/parents are alterable by factors other than their brood's/offspring's genotype.

Artificial feeding of honey bee colonies by adding nutritional supplements to pollen substitutes and its effect on the development of the hypopharyngeal gland stages of honeybee workers Apis mellifera L.

Artificial feeding of honey bee colonies by adding nutritional supplements to pollen substitutes and its effect on the development of the hypopharyngeal gland stages of honeybee workers Apis mellifera L.

Economic Benefits of Using Essential Oils in Food Stimulation Administrated to Bee Colonies

Bees are the most important pollinators of agricultural plants. The decline of bee colonies is caused by a multitude of factors of which diseases, pesticides, and climate change seem to be the most important. Losses can be huge when several factors act together. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of alternative sources such as medicinal plants in the form of extracts or essential oils. The purpose of our research was to evaluate the economic efficiency of the use of essential oils of basil (Ocimum basilicum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum veruum), clove (Syzgium aromaticum), juniper (Juniperus communis L.), oregano (Oreganum vulgare), mint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) in the additional feeding of bee colonies in the spring. Ninety colonies of Apis mellifera bees were used, which were additionally fed with sugar syrup and one of the essential oils. Our results showed strong positive correlations between the total number of germs in the gut of worker bees and the number of brood cells when using the essential oil of oregano (Oreganum vulgare) (R2 = 0.786) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) (R2 = 0.729), and between the total number of germs and the yield of honey obtained at the first harvest in the case of the essential oil of basil (Ocimum basilicum) (R2 = 1), mint (Mentha piperita) (R2 = 0.718), oregano (Oreganum vulgare) (R2 = 0.621), and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L) (R2 = 0.859). The best profit from the sale of honey was obtained in the case of the use of essential oils of mint, oregano, thyme, and basil, in a range of EUR 139.16–144.73/bee colony.

Investigation of Yield and Some Quality Features of Royal Jelly Harvested from Honeybee Colonies Fed with Food Substitutes

Objective: In several nations, royal jelly is used in apitherapy, healthful foods, and cosmetics. The production and quality of royal jelly collected from honeybee colonies are being worked on by researchers and beekeepers. This study investigated the effect of honey and pollen substitute feeding on the production efficiency of royal jelly. In addition, analyses were conducted to determine the differences between fed and unfed groups in terms of 10-hydroxy-2-deconoic acid (10-HDA), protein and pH characteristics, honey, and pollen substitute.Material and Methods: In this research, the influence of honey and pollen substitute feeding on royal jelly production was examined using the ANOVA test for multiple comparisons by forming 3 different groups and conducting 2 replications. Also, features of the 10- hydroxy-2-deconoic acid (10-HDA), protein and pH of the royal jelly was analyzed for understanding differences among the non-feeding pollen and honey substitute feeding groups.Results: The average RJ quantity per queen cup for non-feeding colonies (Group A) was 420 mg, while the content of 10-HDA, protein and pH were 2.40%, 14.06% and 4.20%, respectively. For the colonies fed with sugar syrup (Group B), these values were 470 mg, 2.51%, 12.88%, 4.25 and for the colonies fed with syrup+pollen substitute (Group C) 530 mg, 4.05%, 13.13% and 4.18. The statistical test and contents analysis highlighted the impact of substitute feeding on average quantity amounts and 10-HDA. According to the results of the research, average RJ amounts in queen cell cup was significantly different in three honey bee colonies feeding groups (p<0.05). Colonies fed with sugar syrup +pollen substitute (Group C) colonies were filled the queen cell cups more amount of RJ than non-feeding (Group A) and fed with sugar syrup (Group B) colonies were filled RJ in the queen cell cups with significantly different. In the study, the colony fed with the sugar syrup +pollen substitute showed almost double the amount of 10-HDA value in RJ than non-feeding and fed with sugar syrup colonies. Protein and pH values shows no differences among the groups.Conclusion: Even at times when nectar and pollen were available in nature, it was observed in this research that providing pollen substitution feed to honey bee colonies supported the output and quality of royal jelly.

The Effect of Substitute Feeding On Drone Larvae Production Performance in Honey Bee Colonies

Objective: In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in functional honey bee products. Due of their high nutritional content, drone larvae (Apilarnil) is capable of a wide range of biological activities. In this study, we compared the individual and total weights of drone larvae obtained from colonies fed with different substitute foods.Material and Methods: 12 out of 100 colonies comparable in queen age, brood status and colony size were used as material. The colonies were divided into three groups: control, sugar syrup and pollen substitute diet. Each group underwent three replications.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the weight averages of individual drone larvae taken from colonies (p>0.05). The difference in the average weight of total drone larvae collected between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The average weight of total drone larvae produced by the colonies was 23.80 g in the control group, 34.70 g in the honey substitute group, and 44.42 g in the pollen substitute group.Conclusion: In this research, the high average weight of total drone larvae produced in colonies that fed with pollen substitute feed showed that the use of appropriate substitute feeds in colony feeding management in beekeeping practices promotes drone brood production.

Fine-scale assessment of Chlorella syrup as a nutritional supplement for honey bee colonies

Habitat loss, climate change, and global agriculture have a non-negligible effect on the reduced abundance and diversity of floral resources. Malnutrition and nutritional stress are consequences of the combination of these factors with considerable impact on honey bee health and colony losses. The solution to inadequate natural sources for beekeeping is the additional feeding of honey bee colonies with food supplements. The algae Chlorella is a natural food source, with a nutrient profile similar to natural pollen, thus it has promising application in beekeeping. We evaluated Chlorella vulgaris syrup as a dietary supplement in the view of the oxidative stress that may be caused by long term administration to the colonies. Consuming Chlorella syrup did not influence the activity of digestive enzymes of summer honey bee workers, however, lipase activity insignificantly increased. After Chlorella application to colonies, we also observed insignificantly higher gene expression of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxid dismutase1 in adult workers; however, in larvae the expression of those genes was not affected. Surprisingly, the gene expression did not correspond with enzyme activity in adult bee abdomens. In Chlorella fed colonies, we recorded a higher concentration of vitellogenin, which plays multiple roles in honey bee physiology, i.e., antioxidant, storage protein, or immunity-related functions. Our new findings brought evidence that Chlorella did not negatively affect the digestion or oxidative balance of honey bees, thus its application as a pollen supplement can be fully recommended for maintaining the health of honey bee colonies during periods of dearth.

Feeding behaviour in Australian gregarious Lophyrotoma sawflies (Hymenoptera: Pergidae)

AbstractDetails of feeding behaviour of Australian sawfly species on eucalypt hosts are not well known. In this study, we report new findings on two pergid sawflies, Lophyrotoma interrupta and an unidentified species of Lophyrotoma, after observing larvae feed. We confirmed both daily and nightly feeding regimes, with L. interrupta and Lophyrotoma sp. engaged in feeding‐related activities 92.2% and 67.0% of the time, respectively. A colony sometimes splits into subcolonies as a leaf depletes; individuals leave singly and explore surrounding leaves before joining the rest of the colony feeding on the new leaf. As a specific feeding behaviour, the larvae of both species cut midveins on surrounding leaves in one of several ways before and during feeding. Larvae used pre‐processed cut leaves at a ratio ranging from 0.64 to 0.88 of the whole leaves eaten. Of the leaves cut prior to feeding, approximately half were not consumed, whereas the remaining were consumed 2 days after cutting (median time). We observed a decreasing trend of further cuttings when the proportion of damaged leaves in the surrounding area was increased. Feeding of Lophyrotoma sp. followed a clear pattern: Usually, the last individual remaining on the leaf severed the leaf petiole as it left. This petiole snipping occurred in over half the leaves that larvae had used; however, this behaviour was not observed in L. interrupta.

Biologically active feeding of bee colonies in spring

Introduction Environmental degradation, including pesticide stress on the environment, reduction of natural feed resources, monoculture farming in agriculture and the reduction of the nectar productivity of honey plants due to climate change negatively affect the nutritional status of honey bees and create the need for the use of additional biologically active animal feed. Purpose. The goal of the work was to study the effectiveness of methods of feeding bees with biologically active fertilizers in the spring period. Methods. The research was carried out in March-April 2022 on 10 bee colonies of the Ukrainian population on a private apiary in Bila Tserkva Raion, Kyiv Oblast. The selection of bee colonies for research was carried out by the method of analogues by strength, number of brood and feed. Natural honey from herbs, bee pollen from phacelia and therapeutic and prophylactic drug Bivita + (TM BeeWell) were used as components to create a complete feeding of bee colonies. Results and Discussion. Feedings based on natural honey from different herbs in the form of candy and honey diluted with water are not equally used by bee colonies of the Ukrainian population. According to the results of the conducted studies, it is most effective to feed bee colonies in spring at an average daily temperature of +6...+ 15 by honey diluted with water with a biologically active Bivita+ supplement, which bees used 100 ml per 18 hours. Other variants of bee feedings were used with less intensity in such a sequence: candy from Bivita, honey diluted with water with a phacelia bee pollen, honey diluted with water without additives, candy with a phacelia bee pollen. Candy and honey diluted with water with the addition of bee pollen were used by bees the worst. Prospects for further research are to develop a year-round scheme of feeding bee colonies using biologically active substances in order to fully nourish the bees.

Inferring pesticide toxicity to honey bees from a field-based feeding study using a colony model and Bayesian inference.

Honey bees are crucial pollinators for agricultural crops but are threatened by a multitude of stressors including exposure to pesticides. Linking our understanding of how pesticides affect individual bees to colony‐level responses is challenging because colonies show emergent properties based on complex internal processes and interactions among individual bees. Agent‐based models that simulate honey bee colony dynamics may be a tool for scaling between individual and colony effects of a pesticide. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are developing the VarroaPop + Pesticide model, which simulates the dynamics of honey bee colonies and how they respond to multiple stressors, including weather, Varroa mites, and pesticides. To evaluate this model, we used Approximate Bayesian Computation to fit field data from an empirical study where honey bee colonies were fed the insecticide clothianidin. This allowed us to reproduce colony feeding study data by simulating colony demography and mortality from ingestion of contaminated food. We found that VarroaPop + Pesticide was able to fit general trends in colony population size and structure and reproduce colony declines from increasing clothianidin exposure. The model underestimated adverse effects at low exposure (36 µg/kg), however, and overestimated recovery at the highest exposure level (140 µg/kg), for the adult and pupa endpoints, suggesting that mechanisms besides oral toxicity‐induced mortality may have played a role in colony declines. The VarroaPop + Pesticide model estimates an adult oral LD50 of 18.9 ng/bee (95% CI 10.1–32.6) based on the simulated feeding study data, which falls just above the 95% confidence intervals of values observed in laboratory toxicology studies on individual bees. Overall, our results demonstrate a novel method for analyzing colony‐level data on pesticide effects on bees and making inferences on pesticide toxicity to individual bees.

Changes of Physicochemical Properties of Starch Syrups Recommended for Winter Feeding of Honeybees during Storage

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of storage temperature and time on physicochemical parameters of starch syrups recommended for the winter feeding of bee colonies. The studies included commercially available three starch syrups and an inverted saccharose syrup that were stored at different temperatures: ca. 20 °C, 10–14 °C, and ca. 4 °C. Physicochemical parameters of fresh syrups (immediately after purchase) and syrups after 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months of storage at the abovementioned temperatures were measured. It was observed that the rate of unfavorable changes in chemical composition of starch syrups and the inverted saccharose syrup, mainly the changes in the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, depended on the type of a syrup and storage conditions (temperature, time). Properties of tested starch syrups intended for winter feeding of bees stored at ca. 20 °C maintained unchanged for up to 6 months, whereas the same syrups stored at lower temperatures (10–14 °C) maintained unchanged physicochemical parameters for about 12 months. In higher temperatures, the HMF content increased. To date, the influence of this compound on bees has not been thoroughly investigated.

Changes in the Physicochemical Properties of Starch Syrups after Processing by Honeybees

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.

First description of movement and ranging behavior of the Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) from Serbia using GPS satellite tracking

Understanding the movement pattern and ranging behavior of the Griffon vulture population in Serbia is of great importance for prioritizing conservation action. In 2011, an immature vulture was the first bird to be equipped with a satellite transmitter in Serbia. Our study aims to define the vulture?s foraging areas, home ranges, core and basic areas, and to investigate movement patterns across different years and seasons by analyzing satellite telemetry data. We tracked the movements of the vulture for over three years and obtained satellite tracking data for 34 bird-months (1976 GPS fixes) between October 2011 and July 2014. We determined that the overall foraging area of the vulture across the entire study period was 11654.34 km2. The overall area used by the vulture was larger during spring and summer than during winter periods. Combined ranges across all years identified one basic area and its associated core area around the Uvac colony and nearby feeding site; we identified three core areas in its proximity. This study showed that areas of traditional stock-raising practices are important vulture foraging areas and that supplementary feeding sites have a vital role. Our maps can be used for future planning of vulture conservation measures.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FEEDING BEES FOR USE IN FRUIT CROPS POLLINATION

Нoney bees (Apis mellifera L., 1758) perform a global plant pollination function. For normal development, bee colonies need to meet their nutritional needs. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of artificial bee feeding to increase their flight activity on pollinating fruit crops. To achieve this goal, a scheme for the use of artificial feeding was developed and the optimal set of feeds was selected as well as the influence of artificial feeding on an increase of colony strength and the flight activity of bees was investigated. The study was conducted in a private orchard in 2020. For feeding of bees used: candy in February (1 kg 5 times with an interval of 6 days); sugar syrup both in March (300 g 6 times with an interval of 3 days) and in April (100 g on the first day of flowering), also for bee training for pollination in April, the second experimental group was fed geranium-flavored syrup (1 %); protein mixture in March (500 g 3 times with an interval of 6 days). It has been experimentally proven that the use of artificial feeding is necessary for effective pollination in April. Those bee colonies that have been fed since the beginning of February have made a cleaning flight three days earlier and at a lower temperature (+8…+10 C) while the control colonies do not increase the required number of bees for effective pollination of fruit crops (first decade of April). The complex carbohydrate-protein feeding of bee colonies according to the developed scheme increases the strength of bee colonies by 5–21 % and increases the number of brood cells by 15.4 %. The effectiveness of bee feeding on orchard pollination is confirmed by an increase in their flight activity by 44–47 % during the flowering of cherries, sweet cherries, and pears and by 26–35 % during the flowering of apple trees. The use of flavored syrup allows increasing the flight activity of bees by 6–12 % compared to non-flavored syrup the day after feeding.

Simulating Honey Bee Large-Scale Colony Feeding Studies Using the BEEHAVE Model-Part I: Model Validation.

In pesticide risk assessments, semifield studies, such as large‐scale colony feeding studies (LSCFSs), are conducted to assess potential risks at the honey bee colony level. However, such studies are very cost and time intensive, and high overwintering losses of untreated control hives have been observed in some studies. Honey bee colony models such as BEEHAVE may provide tools to systematically assess multiple factors influencing colony outcomes, to inform study design, and to estimate pesticide impacts under varying environmental conditions. Before they can be used reliably, models should be validated to demonstrate they can appropriately reproduce patterns observed in the field. Despite the recognized need for validation, methodologies to be used in the context of applied ecological models are not agreed on. For the parameterization, calibration, and validation of BEEHAVE, we used control data from multiple LSCFSs. We conducted detailed visual and quantitative performance analyses as a demonstration of validation methodologies. The BEEHAVE outputs showed good agreement with apiary‐specific validation data sets representing the first year of the studies. However, the simulations of colony dynamics in the spring periods following overwintering were identified as less reliable. The comprehensive validation effort applied provides important insights that can inform the usability of BEEHAVE in applications related to higher tier risk assessments. In addition, the validation methodology applied could be used in a wider context of ecological models. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2269–2285. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Simulating Honey Bee Large-Scale Colony Feeding Studies Using the BEEHAVE Model-Part II: Analysis of Overwintering Outcomes.

Large‐scale colony feeding studies (LSCFSs) aim to assess potential pesticide exposure to and effects on honey bees at the colony level. However, these studies are sometimes affected by high losses of control colonies, indicating that other stressors may impact colonies and confound the analysis of potential pesticide impacts. We assessed the study design and environmental conditions experienced by the untreated control colonies across 7 LSCFSs conducted in North Carolina (USA). Overwintering success differed considerably among the studies, as did their initial colony conditions, amount and timing of sugar feeding, landscape composition, and weather. To assess the effects of these drivers on control colonies' overwintering success, we applied the mechanistic colony model BEEHAVE. Sugar feedings and initial status of the simulated colonies were more important for fall colony condition than were landscape and weather. Colonies that had larger colony sizes and honey stores in the fall were those that began with larger honey stores, were provided more sugar, and had supplemental feedings before the fall. This information can be used to inform the standardization of a study design, which can increase the likelihood of overwintering survival of controls and help ensure that LSCFSs are comparable. Our study demonstrates how a mechanistic model can be used to inform study designs for higher tier effects studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2286–2297. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

The effectiveness of using glucose-fructose syrup for feeding bees in under cover conditions

The beekeeping practice provides for using stimulating feeding of the bee colonies in order to accelerate their growth and development. Sugar syrup is usually used to feeding bees. Despite the obvious benefits, sugar syrup use as a feed additive which has a number of disadvantages. This is due to the different origin of such syrup (beet, sugarcane, corn, fructose syrup, etc.) and, accordingly, different effects on the physiological and metabolic processes of the body and the life of bees and their colonies as a whole. In recent years, scientific research has intensified in many countries of the world to find new substitutes for sugar syrup to feed bee colonies. One of the artificial substitutes for carbohydrate feed to bees is glucose-fructose syrup content of reducing sugars close to honey and exceed to invert syrup. Glucose-fructose syrup is produced mainly from high-quality corn starch by enzymatic hydrolysis to glucose, followed by isomerization part of glucose into fructose and subsequent purification through coal core and ion exchange resins. It contains all the essential amino acids, trace elements, B vitamins, and does not require the release of a large amount of enzyme by bees, as is in the case of sugar syrup. Its use as a feed additive increases the bees life span does not lead them to expired, preserves the activity of their hypopharyngeal glands and allows to put food directly into the cells. The article presents results of the research on the effectiveness of stimulating the development of bee colonies and pollination of cucumbers in under cover conditions for using glucose-fructose syrup. It has found that for stimulating feeding of the bee colonies are used glucose-fructose syrup at the rate of 200 g per day in under cover conditions, against the background of the presence sufficient feed honey and bee bread in the nests, contributes to an increase the amount of brood grown by 13.5 % (P < 0.01) and the amount of pollen brought by them by 20.1 %.