Valuation of different sources of sugars used in artificial feeding of bees (A. mellifera)

Abstract

Bees need a wide range of food items to meet their nutritional requirements to ensure their growth and development. In artificial feeding are a number of products used to prepare sugar solutions (syrup), the most common being cane sugar, high fructose syrups and commercial glucose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of three sources of sugars used in artificial feeding of bees, their effect on weight gain (IP) of the colonies, the patterns of posture (PP) of the queens (amount produced breeding and brood combs number), and the production of honey (PM), as well as beekeeping productivity response. The field study was conducted in the experimental apiary of the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes. Four groups of five colonies (a control group and three experimental groups) each experimental group was given a standard sucrose solution (55 ° Brix), using different ingredients and proportions. For statistical analysis we used a completely randomized design. The study showed no significant differences between the treatment groups for the analyzed variables (IP, PP and PM), but with respect to the control group where lower results were observed, therefore, the study suggests the need to feed the hives and superior results were observed between the treated hives with respect to the control group where no colonies had reached a proper development.