Effect of feeding with different proteinaceous diets on some physiological parameter of honeybee workers , Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera :Apidae)

Abstract

The effect of nutrition value of different diets on mortality, head weight and absorbed protein in gut of caged honeybee workers, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera :Apidae) were studied. The experiment was carried out by used five bee bread (Broad bean, clover, cucumber,  fennel, and maize), artificial diet, artificial diet plus syrup with ascorbic acid to fed newly emerged honeybee workers against control (Fed  sugar solution only) under laboratory conditions. Head weight was increased gradually to reach maximum value at nine days then  decreased gradually and again increased slightly at 18 and 21 days for all tested groups. The head weight was recorded in bees fed with  broad bean and Egyptian clover bee bread 9.625 and 9.489 mg/bee, respectively significantly difference in comparison to control bees  (8.100 mg/bee) at nine days. In this study we determined 75 % of cumulative mortality rates for all tested groups. At 39 days of  experiment beginning for all treatments data were statically analysis. The lowest mortality rate recorded in clover, bean, cucumber, diet  and diet plus ascorbic acid were 51.5, 51.75, 53.5, 51.25 and 52.25 % respectively in comparison to control bee mortality rate 75 % was  recorded at 39 days of experiment beginning. Maize bee bread and artificial diet were the lowest percentage of absorbed protein in gut.