“Effect of Feeding Different Pollen Substitutes on Brood Rearing and Colony Strength of Honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)”, Faisal I. A. Osman and Siham K. A. Nagi

Faisal I.A. Osman¹ and Siham K.A. Nagi^2*
1Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Kordofan State, Sudan
²Environment, Natural Resources and Desertification Research Institute, National Centre for Research, P.O. Box 6096, Khartoum, Sudan
^*Corresponding author, E-mail: sihamnahal@yahoo.com
Accepted: 1^st December 2016, Published: 31^st December 2016
Abstract
A preliminary trial was conducted during May-September (a dearth period) 2014 in Khartoum State, Sudan, in order to test the effect of feeding different pollen substitutes on brood rearing and colony strength of Carniolan honeybees (Apis mellifera carnica). Ground seeds of Acacia Senegal, Moringa oleifera and Prosopis chilensis, each mixed with honey, powder sugar, and yeast, were used in form of pancakes as pollen substitutes. Sixteen colonies were studied in a Completely Randomized Design. Sealed worker brood area and strength of colonies were investigated. Consumed pancakes were also calculated. The results showed that the area of the worker brood reared was significantly highest in colonies fed M. oleifera (1008.50+68.63in²), followed by P. chilensis (934.50+228.48) and then A. Senegal (834.50+214.14) pancakes, all were significantly higher than the control (321.00+35.36 in²). Colonies fed pollen substitutes developed well and the bees covered between 6.25+0.25 and 4.50+0.65 of combs, while control colonies showed diminished strength (2.00+0.00). Hence, the studied pollen substitutes are useful and promising to be subjected to further investigation in order to be adopted under dearth conditions.
Keywords: Apis mellifera, feeding, Hashab, moringa, mesquite, dearth period.