Feeding substitutes -A Management Tool for Enhancing the Pollen and Honey area during Dearth Period in Apis cerana Fabricius in Kashmir

Author: Bismat un Nisa, Muneer Ahmad, M.A. Parray, S.S. Pathania, Javeed Iqbal and Humira Mushtaq

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Abstract

The experiment was conducted at an apiary maintained at the Division of Entomology, SKUAST-K, Shalimar from July to September during the year, 2020to develop efficient and cheap nectar substitute for dearth period management of Apis cerana honeybee colonies. The syrup containing apple juice, sugar and mixture of both was evaluated as a diet supplement to develop an efficient feeding substitute. Bees were provided with the four nectar feeding substitutes viz., T1, apple juice and sugar in the ratio of 1:1; T2, apple juice and sugar in the ratio of 1.5:1; T3 apple juice alone and T4, sugar syrup in the ratio of 1:1 and compared with T5 natural feeding to determine their impact on desirable attributes of colonies. The feeding substitutes supplemented resulted in the gradual increase in the pollen and honey area (sq cm). The pollen area (347.78 sq cm) and honey area (854.76sq cm) was maximum in T2, apple juice and sugar in the ratio of 1.5:1, followed by T1; apple juice and sugar in the ratio of 1:1 (pollen area; 328.57 sq cm, honey area; 818.76 sq cm) and T4; sugar syrup in the ratio of 1:1(pollen area; 316.16 sq cm, honey area; 768.16 sq cm). All the desirable parameters were found to be least in T5 natural feeding. So, among the evaluated feeding supplement treatments; apple juice and sugar in the ratio of 1.5:1 (T2) was the best nectar feeding substitute during dearth period followed by apple juice and sugar in the ratio of 1:1 (T1). The nectar feeding substitutes are better for colony health than a complete lack of proteins and carbohydrates which otherwise cause starvation. They are most useful during the times of floral dearth period that stimulate colony growth. The efforts put into the nectar feeding substitutes would assist beekeepers to use this knowledge in order to improve colony management and thereby, colony health.

Keywords

Apis cerana, apple juice, dearth period, feeding substitutes, honey, pollen

Conclusion

The practice of beekeeping is a year round process. Management applied during dearth floral period will positively affect the colony performance sooner or later. The primary objective of this study was to develop an economical and efficient nectar substitute for dearth period management of honeybees. The results so obtained have great significance for beekeepers for efficient colony management during lean floral period. From the present findings, it can be safely concluded that bees have accepted all the nectar feeding substitutes and have shown a positive impact on incremental pollen and honey area. Thus, beekeepers can use nectar substitutes to improve the nutrition of honeybees especially when there are less floral rewards.

References

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How to cite this article

Bismat un Nisa, Muneer Ahmad, M.A. Parray, S.S. Pathania, Javeed Iqbal and Humira Mushtaq (2023). Feeding substitutes -A Management Tool for Enhancing the Pollen and Honey area during Dearth Period in Apis cerana Fabricius in Kashmir. Biological Forum - An International Journal, 15(8a): 71-75.