Energetic supplementation for maintenance or development of Apis mellifera L. colonies

Autor(es)

Gabriela Pinto de Oliveira ^[1] ; Samir Moura Kadri ^[2] ; Bruno Giovane Emilio Benaglia ^[3] ; Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla ^[4] ; Ricardo de Oliveira Orsi ^[5]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] São Paulo State University. School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Center for Education, Science and Technology in Rational Beekeeping - Brasil

^[2] São Paulo State University. School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Center for Education, Science and Technology in Rational Beekeeping - Brasil

^[3] São Paulo State University. School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Center for Education, Science and Technology in Rational Beekeeping - Brasil

^[4] São Paulo State University. Botucatu Biosciences Institute. Department of Parasitology - Brasil

^[5] São Paulo State University. School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Center for Education, Science and Technology in Rational Beekeeping - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases; v. 26, 2020-05-15.

Resumo

Abstract Background: The nutritional requirements of honeybees (Apis mellifera) for their complete development need to be supplied through food sources available in the environment, since honeybees are insects that depend directly on blossoming food sources. However, at certain times a food-supply reduction can promote nutritional stress, thus necessitating food supplementation for maintenance or production stimulus of the colonies. Thus, the determination of optimal energy supplementation can assist in the maintenance and production of colonies. Methods: Twenty Apis mellifera beehives were used (with five beehives per treatment): CTL, control (without feeding); SJ, sugarcane juice; SS, sugar syrup; and IS, inverted sucrose. We evaluated the food consumption, population development, and physiological state (expression of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70a genes) of each colony. Results: The results showed that the supplementation of colonies with sugar syrup resulted in an intermediate consumption level (894.6 ± 291 mL) and better development (384.9 ± 237.3 and 158.3 ± 171.6 cm2, sealed and open brood, respectively). Furthermore, this diet ensured that the colonies were in a good physiological state, as bees fed this diet presented the highest relative expression levels of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70a among all the diets tested. Conclusions: Therefore, sugar syrup is concluded to be the best artificial energetic food for use in the supplementation of honeybee colonies. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/12001-2 - Efeitos de diferentes alimentos energéticos em enxames de abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas na expressão de genes de estocagem em período de escassez de alimento
• Beneficiário: Gabriela Pinto de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica