The  Impact of Pollen Diets and Pollen Substitutes on Some Physiological Traits of Honeybee Workers

Fatma R. Hetita; Ahmed A. Zaitoun; Maher A. Kamel; Moustafa Eldakak; Mohamed A. Shebl; Nabil S. El-Barbary

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v73i3.12441

Authors

Fatma R. Hetita Department of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4315-3515
Ahmed A. Zaitoun Department of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Maher A. Kamel Department of Biochemistry, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6661-7466
Moustafa Eldakak Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Mohamed A. Shebl Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University. Ismailia, Egypt
Nabil S. El-Barbary Department of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v73i3.12441

Keywords:

Honeybee colony health, Hypopharyngeal glands, food consumption, Pollen grains, Pollen substitute diets

Abstract

Nutrition plays an important role in the health and development of honeybee castes. A protein-enriched diet improves bees’ health and physiological condition. In this study, the effects of four different diets: (polyfloral pollen, monofloral pollen, soybean, and candy as a control) on the physiological characteristics of worker bees (hypopharyngeal glands, HPG), dry weight of thorax, longevity, and food consumption) were investigated. The data were recorded three times (4, 8, and 12 days) post-exposure to the tested diets. The results revealed that food consumption by worker bees was significantly higher in the pollen-tested diets (polyfloral and monofloral pollen) than in soybean and candy diets. Regarding longevity, there was no statistically significant difference among the four diets. There was a statistically significant difference in HPG and dry weight; the highest values were observed in pollen diets. These results suggest that diets containing protein and lipids support the health and development of honeybee workers.

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