Effects of Additive Feeding with Pollen and Water on Some Characteristics of Honeybee Colonies and Pine Honey Production

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of additive feeding with pollen and water on honey yield, colony population, winter loses and wintering ability of colonies in pine honey production season in Muğla province of Turkey. Total twenty honeybee colonies had similar physiological pattern (queen age, genotype, amount of adult worker bees (number of frames covered with adult worker bees), sealed brood areas (cm2) and food stocks) were used and randomly divided into four groups. Three of them were fed extra with pollen+water, pollen and water. The control colonies were not given additive foods. Honey yield in pollen+water, pollen, water and control groups were found to be 24.2±1.1, 17.3±0.8, 16.3±1.0 and 12.0±0.6 kg/colony respectively. Group means were statistically significant. From September 25 to February 15 (wintering), losses of the adult worker bees in pollen+water, pollen, water and control groups were 50%, 69%, 68% and 82%, decrease of sealed brood areas in the groups were 48%, 66%, 68% and 85%, respectively. Wintering ability of pollen+water, pollen, water and control groups were found to be 92.1±3.2, 70.4±17.8, 67.1±16.7 and 51.0±21.2% respectively. The results showed that additive feeding in pine honey production season, especially feeding with both pollen+water provided nearly 100% more honey production and 80% better wintering ability than the control group. In addition, feeding with only pollen or water had similar positive effect (approximately 40%) better than control group