Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The use of a within-hive replication bioassay method to investigate the phagostimulatory effects of pollen, bee bread and pollen extracts, on free-flying honey bee colonies

Drijfhout

Authors



Abstract

A method for conducting multiple-choice bioassays, incorporating within-hive replication, is described and demonstrated here. This method has been used to study the influence of phagostimulants in pollens on food uptake within honey bee colonies. Experiments using bee-collected trapped pollens and a sample of stored bee bread suggest that there is little or no difference in the preference of bees towards fresh pollen or bee bread. Further work using solvent extracts of pollen showed that phagostimulants are easily extractable in sufficient quantities to increase the consumption of artificial diet in field-based colonies, despite alternative natural forage being available. Data indicate that the addition of polar solvent extracts of pollen increases diet consumption more than less polar extracts. Isolating and identifying phagostimulants could contribute towards production of a range of more palatable artificial diets than those currently available.

Acceptance Date Oct 15, 2014
Publication Date Oct 15, 2014
Journal Apidologie
Print ISSN 0044-8435
Publisher Springer Verlag
Pages 315 - 325
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0324-z
Keywords Apis mellifera, phagostimulant, diet, feeding, forage
Publisher URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13592-014-0324-z