Alternative to Off-Season Sugar Supplement Feeding of Honeybees

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Gorkha Bee Farm, Yagyapuri, Chitwan during rainy season of 2005 to investigate alternative to sugar supplement feeding and reduce cost feeding during off-season. Apis mellifera L. honeybee colonies were prepared with 5 frames of covering bees and 3.5 frames of broods and a queen of similar quality each of five different supplemental feedings: i) sugar syrup (1:1 sugar and water); ii) rice bran syrup (100 gm rice bran soaked in 1 lit water and after 4 hours blended, filtered and added 200 gm sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to make 1 lit); iii) maize syrup (100 gm maize flour soaked in 1 lit water and after 4 hours blended, filtered and added 200 gm sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to make 1 lit); iv) banana syrup (100 gm ripen peeled banana mixed in 1 lit water, blended, filtered and added 200 gm sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to make 1 lit); and v) pumpkin syrup (100 gm boiled pumpkin after removing outer hard core mixed in 1 lit water, blended, filtered and added 200 gm sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to make 1 lit) was placed inside the hive in a division board feeder @ 30 ml per frame of honeybees per day at an interval of 3 days. Feeding honeybees with sugar syrup increased number of brood cells by 53.5%, brood frames by 37.1% and frames covered by bees by 32.0%. Honeybee colonies when fed with banana and pumpkin syrup increased brood cells by 16.3% and 2.8%, brood frames by 17.1% and 8.6% and bees covered number of frames by 12.0% and 3.2%, respectively. Number of brood cells, brood frames and covered frames by bee remained almost constant when honeybees fed with pumpkin syrup. On the other hand, feeding bee colonies with maize and rice bran syrup decreased the number of brood cells by 11.2% and 35.2%, brood frames by 11.4% and11.4% and bees covered frames by 24.0% and 24.0%, respectively. The cost of off-season feeding was the highest (Rs. 247.0) for sugar syrup followed by maize syrup (Rs. 140.4), banana syrup (Rs. 117.4), rice bran (Rs. 113.4), and pumpkin syrup (Rs.105.4). All of the feeding materials were safe to bee feeding. Banana syrup feeding was found superior to others, and therefore, its supplementation can reduce the cost of sugar feeding by more than 50% and increase brood production during off-season.

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Research Article
ALTERNATIVE TO OFF-SEASON SUGAR SUPPLEMENT FEEDING OF HONEYBEES
K. R. Neupane and R. B. Thapa
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted at Gorkha Bee Farm, Yagyapuri, Chitwan during rainy season of 2005 to
investigate alternative to sugar supplement feeding and reduce cost feeding during off- season. Apis mellifera
L. honeybee colonies were prepared with 5 frames of covering bees and 3.5 frames of broods and a queen
of similar quality each of five different supplemental feedings: i) sugar syrup (1:1 sugar and water); ii) rice
bran syrup (100 gm rice bran soaked in 1 lit water and after 4 hours blended, filtered and added 200 gm
sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to make 1 lit); iii) maize syrup (100 gm maize flour soaked in 1 lit
water and after 4 hours blended, filtered and added 200 gm sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to
make 1 lit); iv) banana syrup (100 gm ripen peeled banana mixed in 1 lit water, blended, filtered and added
200 gm sugar + 20 gm honey and required water to make 1 lit); and v) pumpkin syrup (100 gm boiled
pumpkin after removing outer hard core mixed in 1 lit water, blended, filtered and added 200 gm sugar + 20
gm honey and required water to make 1 lit) was placed inside the hive in a division board feeder @ 30 ml per
frame of honeybees per day at an interval of 3 days. Feeding honeybees with sugar syrup increased number
of brood cells by 53.5%, brood frames by 37.1% and frames covered by bees by 32.0%. Honeybee colonies
when fed with banana and pumpkin syrup increased brood cells by 16.3% and 2.8%, brood frames by
17.1% and 8.6% and bees covered number of frames by 12.0% and 3.2%, respectively. Number of brood
cells, brood frames and covered frames by bee remained almost constant when honeybees fed with pumpkin
syrup. On the other hand, feeding bee colonies with maize and rice bran syrup decreased the number of
brood cells by 11.2% and 35.2%, brood frames by 11.4% and11.4% and bees covered frames by 24.0% and
24.0%, respectively. The cost of off-season feeding was the highest (Rs. 247.0) for sugar syrup followed by
maize syrup (Rs. 140.4), banana syrup (Rs. 117.4), rice bran (Rs. 113.4), and pumpkin syrup (Rs.105.4). All
of the feeding materials were safe to bee feeding. Banana syrup feeding was found superior to others, and
therefore, its supplementation can reduce the cost of sugar feeding by more than 50% and increase brood
production during off-season.
Key words: Off- season, honeybee feeding, sugar supplement
INTRODUCTION
Honeybees need several nutrients, like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals for their
growth and development. They receive carbohydrates from nectar and proteins from pollen (Javaheri et al.,
2000). Feeding bees with pollen substitute and sugar syrup increase the number of bees and frames covered by
bees, brood area and colony weight much higher than feeding only sugar syrup or pollen (Sahinler, et al., 2003).
Availability of natural nectar and pollen becomes scarce for honeybees during rainy season in Nepal. In some
areas of the country, even if nectar and pollen are available, honeybees cannot utilize them due to the unfavorable
climatic situations. Therefore, beekeepers must feed honeybees artificially during off-season. Sugar is the main
commodity to feed honeybees during off-season. However, the price for sugar is increasing every year making
beekeeping an expensive enterprise. Therefore, this study was carried out at Gorkha Bee Farm at Yagyapuri,
Chitwan, Nepal in rainy season of 2005 to investigate the suitable and cheaper feeding material (s) to reduce the
cost of feeding and keep bees viable during off-season.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Initially, different cereals, vegetables and fruits were tested as hit and trial methods for feeding honeybees
during rainy season. Out of the several materials tested, rice bran, maize white powder, ripen banana (Green
varieties), and ripen pumpkin and sugar as control were selected for this study based on their availability, honeybee’s
feeding preference, and reasonable price.
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Preparation of feeding materials and experimentation
Sugar syrup (control)
Sugar syrup was prepared by dissolving equal volume of crystal sugar with equal volume of fresh
water, i.e. 1:1.
Rice bran syrup
One hundred gram of rice bran was mixed in one liter of fresh water and kept for 4 hours. The mixture
was blended properly and filtered through a muslin cloth, and one liter rice bran syrup was prepared by adding
fresh water to the filtrate including 200 gm of sugar crystal and 20 gm of honey.
Maize syrup
One hundred gram of maize white powder was added to one liter of fresh water and kept for 4 hours. The
mixtures was blended properly and filtered through a muslin cloth to which 200 gm of crystal sugar and 20 gm
of honey mixed and prepared to one liter by adding water.
Banana syrup
Hundred gram flesh of ripen banana was added to one liter of fresh water and blended in a mixture and
filtered through a muslin cloth. Then, 200 gm crystal sugar and 20 gm of honey was added to substrate and
mixed thoroughly. The final volume of banana syrup was made one liter by adding fresh water.
Pumpkin
The ripen pumpkin was boiled in fresh water, outer hard skin and seeds removed, and 100 gm of boiled
pumpkin mixed in one liter of water and blended properly, which was filtered through a muslin cloth. 200 gm
of crystal sugars and 20gm of honey was mixed thoroughly and final one liter pumpkin syrup was prepared by
adding fresh water.
Study site and design
The study was conducted at Gorkha Bee Farm, Yagyapuri, Chitwan from August to October, 2005 when
there was acute shortage of floral sources within the foraging areas. The experiment was conducted in RCBD
with 5 treatments and 5 replications. The data were analyzed and means were compared with the Duncan’s
Multiple Range Test. Finally, the cost of different feeding materials was calculated and compared to each other
to find the cheapest feed supplementation.
Colony preparation and feeding
Experimental honeybee colonies were prepared with 5 frames of covering bees and 3.5 frames of broods
and a queen of similar quality. The experiment was conducted on Apis mellifera L. colonies assigning 10
colonies to each feeding treatment feeding inside the hive in a division board feeder @ 30 ml per frame of
honeybees per day at an interval of 3 days. In addition, each experimental bee colony was given 500 gm of
artificial pollen substitute for each month. The total amount of syrup given to each colony was recorded each
time of feeding and syrup utilized by bees was calculated after three days of feeding by subtracting the remaining
amount in the brood feeder.
Data recording
The number of brood cells (cell having egg or larva or pupa) and honey cells (cell having honey), total
number of frames covered by bees, total number of brood frames (frame having brood cells) were recorded at
weekly interval and the impact of different feeding materials for supplementing sugar feeding was evaluated
using these parameters.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Feeding preference
Honeybees preferentially collected and utilized all sugar syrup (100%) followed by pumpkin (99.5%),
banana (96.7%), maize powder (90.1%) and rice bran (59%) syrup for their nutrient requirements as indicated
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by 0.0, 38.8, 234.4, 385.0 and 1023.4 ml feeds remaining out of 7230.0, 7002.0, 7128.0, 4038.0 and 2496.0 ml of
sugar, pumpkin, banana, maize and rice bran syrup given for feeding, respectively (Table 1). Rice bran and
maize powder syrup fermented in the feeder bag after 24 hours of feeding, where as banana and pumpkin
syrup started to ferment after 48 hours of feeding. Bees were drawn in banana, maize and rice bran syrup when
it was too thick. However, bees were comparatively safer in pumpkin syrup feeding.
Effect of feeding treatments on brood and honey cells
Brood cells were almost similar at the beginning of the experiment. The number of brood cells in the
experimental bee colonies differed for different feeding materials. At the end of the off-season feeding (August-
October), the highest number of brood per colony was recorded in colonies fed with sugar syrup
(10697.00±1071.51) followed by pumpkin (7904.60± 686.69) and banana (6420.80±736.83), while the least
number of brood cells/colony was produced by rice bran (4961.60± 593.90) and by maize (5658.60±1034.90)
syrup feeding, respectively (Table 2).
The number of cells with honey were the highest in colonies fed with sugar syrup (4445.30 ± 605.47)
followed by pumpkin (824.10±557.85), banana (479.10±39.03), maize syrup (466.20±106.89) and rice bran
(242.24±137.96) syrup, respectively. The colonies fed with sugar syrup stored the highest amount of honey and
colonies fed with rice bran stored the least.
Table 1. Amount of feed supplement unutilized by honeybees during off-season (August to October, 2004)
SN Treatments Given amount (ml) Consumed amount (ml) Leftover amount (ml) Utilized amount (%)
1 Sugar syrup (Control) 7230.0 7230.0 0.0 100.0
2 Rice bran syrup 2496.0 1472.6 1023.4 59.0
3 Maize syrup 4038.0 3656.0 385.0 91.1
4 Pumpkin syrup 7128.0 6893.6 234.4 96.7
5 Banana syrup 7002.0 6963.2 38.8 99.5
Average of five replications
Table 2. Number of brood cells per colony at the beginning (August) and at the end (October 2004)
Treatments Brood cells No. (beginning) Brood cells No. (at the end) Honey cells No.
Sugar syrup (Control) 6968.00 ± 421.03 10697.00 ± 1071.51 4445.30 ± 605.47
Rice bran syrup 7661.80 ± 792.91 4961.60 ± 593.90 242.24 ± 137.96
Maize syrup 6370.60 ± 523.93 5658.60 ± 1034.90 466.20 ± 106.89
Pumpkin syrup 6796.80 ±1200.39 7904.60 ± 686.69 824.10 ± 557.85
Banana syrup 6248.20 ± 760.07 6420.80 ± 736.83 479.10 ± 39.03
Average of five replications, values after ± indicate SE
Effect of feeding treatments on brood frames and honeybees
The trend of brood frame increasing is presented in Table 3. The total number of frames was different in
sugar, banana and pumpkin syrup feeding but not between maize and rice syrup feeding treatments. Sugar
syrup feeding produced the highest number of covering frames of bees (6.6) and brood frames (4.8) followed
by pumpkin (5.6 and 4.1), banana (5.1 and 3.8), rice (3.8 and 3.4), and maize bran (3.8 and 3.1) in two months
syrup feeding experiment, respectively (Table 3).
Table 3. Increased number of brood frames and brood frames covered by honeybees/experimental colony
Treatments
1
st
September 15
th
September 30
th
September 15
th
October 30
th
October
Brood Frames Brood Frames Brood Frames Brood Frames Brood Frames
frames covered frames covered frames covered frames covered frames covered
by bees by bees by bees by bees
Sugar syrup (Control) 3.0 5.0 3.1 5.1 5.1 5.5 4.8 6.6 4.8 6.6
Rice bran syrup 3.0 5.0 3.4 4.5 3.4 4.1 3.1 3.8 3.4 3.8
Maize syrup 3.0 5.0 2.8 4.0 3.0 4.0 3.1 3.8 3.1 3.8
Pumpkin syrup 3.0 5.0 3.1 5.0 3.2 5.1 3.5 4.8 4.1 5.6
Banana syrup 3.0 5.0 3.1 5.1 3.5 5.1 3.8 5.0 3.8 5.1
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Cost of supplemental feeding during dearth season
The cost of feeding for bee colonies having 10 frames of covering bees varied greatly between sugar, rice
bran, maize, banana and pumpkin syrup feedings. The highest cost of feeding was recorded for sugar (Rs
247.0) followed by maize (Rs 140.4), banana (Rs 117.9), rice bran (Rs 113.4) and pumpkin (Rs 104.4) syrup,
respectively. It has been found from the experiment that the cost of sugar feeding during off-season can be
reduced by more than 50% by feeding bees with banana syrup (Table 5).
SN Feeding materials Required items Unit cost (Rs) Total cost (Rs) Grand total (Rs)
1 Sugar syrup 6.5 kg 38.0 247.0 247.0
2 Banana syrup 1. Banana flesh (900 gm=15 bananas) 1.5/banana 22.5 117.9
2. Sugar (1.8 kg) 38.0/ kg 68.4
3. Honey (180 Gm) 150.0/kg 27.0
3 Pumpkin syrup 1. Pumpkin flesh (900gm) 10.0/kg 9.0 104.4
2. Sugar (1.8kg) 38.0/kg 68.4
3. Honey (180 gm) 150.0/kg 27.0
4 Maize syrup 1. Maize powder (900gm) 50.0/kg 45.0 140.4
2. Sugar (1.8 kg) 38.0/kg 68.4
3. Honey (180 gm) 150.0/kg 27.0
5 Rice bran 1. Rice bran (900gm) 20.0/kg 18.0 113.4
2. Sugar (1.8kg) 38.0/kg 68.4
3. Honey (180 gm) 150.0/kg 27.0
At the prevailing market price during the experimental period (August-October 2004)
Table 5. Cost of feeding materials for a month @ 9 liters per 10 frame bee colony
DISCUSSIONS
Honeybees most preferentially collected and utilized sugar syrup followed by pumpkin and banana syrup
and utilized them for their nutrient requirements. The least preference was given to rice bran and maize syrup.
Honeybee colonies receiving sugar syrup collected, stored and utilized all the given syrup from the beginning to
the end of experiment and produced the highest number of brood frames, brood cells and covering of frames
by bees followed by the colonies fed with banana, pumpkin, maize and rice bran syrup. Honeybees fed with
sugar syrup produced high number of brood cells, brood frames and number of frames covered by bees by
53.5%, 37.1% and 32.0%, respectively. Bees when fed with banana syrup utilized 96.7% of the total given syrup
and produced increased number of brood cells by 16.3%, brood frames by 17.1% and covering frames of bees
by 12.0%, respectively. Similarly, bees when fed with pumpkin syrup utilized 99.5% of the total given syrup and
produced increased number of brood cells by 2.8%, brood frames by 8.6%, covering of frames by bees by
3.2%, respectively. However, the production of brood cells, brood frames and number of frames covered by
bees declined from the initial time of the experiment by 11.2%, 11.4% and 24%, respectively, when bees were
fed with maize syrup. Similarly, honeybees when fed with rice bran syrup, utilized 59.0% of the total given
syrup and produced declined number of brood cells, brood frame and covering number of frames by 35.2%,
11.4% and 24%, respectively.
Nutrition of honeybees involves various chemicals, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and
vitamins. Flowers are the mainstay of the bee’s life from where they collect pollen, a protein rich food and
nectar, which is a major source of energy. The key indicators for the proper health and development of bees are
vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, folic acid and minerals, such as iron, manganese and zinc in the pollen (Dietz, 1975;
Vivino and Palmer, 1994). Fruits, vegetables and cereals rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals
are easily available during off-season and are cheaper in price that can be taken as alternatives to feed bees
during off-season. Banana is the cheapest and the most nutritious than any other fruits (Abdul et al., 1990).
Similarly, pumpkin, rice bran and maize powder, which are easily available during off-season are also cheaper
and rich in nutrition. Feeding bees with banana and pumpkin syrup provides not only energy, but also supplies
protein, vitamins and minerals. Banana contains very high caloric value (2400 cal per 100 gm fruit flesh) and
tissue building elements. It contains nearly all the essential nutrients including, minerals, vitamins, (Abdul et al.,
1990; Singh, 1979). Pumpkin fruit also contains protein (1.4%), minerals (0.69%), vitamins A, B, and C, but it
has fairly less carbohydrate content (4.6%) (Chaudhary, 1996). It has been reported that rice bran, buckwheat
powder, sweet pumpkin, turnip; malus fruits are used to feed bees during off-season in the higher hills of Nepal
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(Upadhya, 2003). Hrassnigg et al. (2003) has also reported that honeybees can utilize the complex carbohydrate
that underlines their important roles as food processors in the honeybee society. Therefore, feeding bees with
fruits or vegetables or cereals rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and fats can be the best alternative to
replace expensive cane sugar.
It has been found from the experiment that the honeybee colony was viable when fed with banana syrup,
which also increased the production of broods and bees, while feeding pumpkin syrup helped keeping honeybees
viable during off-season. On the other hand, honeybees when fed with maize and rice bran syrup decreased the
broods and bees. However, The store of honey in the experimental bee colonies fed with rice bran, maize, and
pumpkin syrup was insufficient for the requirements of bees. The cells with honey in the banana feeding
colonies were enough only to keep the bees viable. None of the syrup was found toxic to bees. Also, there was
no incidence of any pests and diseases of bees in all the experimental bee colonies. The worker bees of none of
the experimental colonies pulled and throw out the broods due to the acute shortage of food inside the hive.
CONCLUSIONS
Feeding bees with pumpkin syrup increased brood and bees as compared to banana, maize and rice bran
syrup. In addition, feeding bees with pumpkin syrup reduced the cost of feeding by more than 50% than that
of sugar feeding. Therefore, pumpkin and banana syrups have been found superior to rice bran, maize powder
can be suggested for feeding bee colonies during off-season to reduce the cost of feeding and keep bees more
viable.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors express their profound appreciation to the National Agriculture Research and Development
Funds (NARDF) for providing research grant to conduct this research. Sincere thanks to Directorate of Research
and Publications, IAAS, Rampur, Chitwan for providing administrative and logistic support to carryout this
research. The authors also are grateful to Gorkha Bee Farm, Yagyapuri and their staffs for providing all
necessary tools, space and other supports to complete this experiment.
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