REARING EFFICIENCY, FORAGING BEHAVIOR AND FOOD MANAGEMENT OF HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera L.) DURING DEARTH PERIOD

Abstract

A study on rearing efficiency, foraging behavior and food management of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) during dearth period was conducted during dearth period (August 2015 to December 2015) in an apiary located at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) campus. Study was also undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial nectar and pollen substitutes at four different concentrations supplied on the honey bee colonies on its population development as a preparation for migratory beekeeping. Study on the foraging behavior of honey bee during dearth period was also included. Treatments consisted of the substitute of nectar in the form sugar: water, and pollen in the form of mungbean flour applied in the ratios of 2:1, 1.5:1 and 1:1 and replicated 3 times. Treatments applied in four bee colonies in the apiary. In the month of August, maximum space (cm2) of the colony was covered by larva, pupae having 221.6 and 310, respectively. The highest number of worker per 4 cm2 area were 3.238 and drone per frame was 1.913 in the colony treated by nectar substitute with sugar:water (2:1) and pollen alternative with mungbean flour. In the month of September, October, November and December the colonies treated with nectar and pollen substitutes with that higher ratio (2:1) showed the highest spaces of 145.33, 284, 300 and 397 cm2 covered by eggs in four bee colonies, respectively. With similar substitute the highest space (cm2) covered by larvae and pupae were 300, 286, 298 and 306 cm2 and 321, 288, 315 and 400 cm2 and highest number of worker per 4 cm2 was 3.79. 3.895, 4.566 and 5.083 and maximum number of drone per frame was 2.026, 2.40, 2.52 and 3.26 in the month of September, October, November and December, respectively. In this study foraging behavior of honey bee during dearth period was also conducted. Number of worker bee ingress per minute into the colony with pollen was counted. Highest number of worker bee was counted as 3.344, 10.40, 20.494, 20.056 and 29.944 in the month of August, September, October, November and December, respectively is the colonies treated by nectar substitute with sugar and water in the ratio of 2:1 and pollen alternative with mungbean flour.