Different energetic diets affect the maintenance of Apis mellifera L. colonies during off-season

Abstract

The aim of this study wasto evaluate the best energetic foodforuse in the maintenance of honey bee colonies during the off-season. To do this, 20Apis mellifera beehives were used(with five beehives per treatment): CTL,control (without feeding); SJ,sugarcane juice; SS,sugar syrup; and IS,inverted sugar. We evaluated the food consumption, population development, and physiological state (expression of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70agenes)of eachcolony.The results showed that the supplementation of colonieswith sugar syrup resulted in an intermediateconsumption and thebetter development of the colony.In addition, this diet ensured that the colonies were in a good physiological state,as beesfed this diet presentedthe highest relative expression levels of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70ameasuredamong all thediets tested.Therefore, sugar syrup was concluded to be the best artificial energetic food for use in thesupplementation of honey bee colonies during the off-season.