Honeybee Nutrition Review of research and practices A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by John Black May 2006 RIRDC Publication No 06/052 RIRDC Project No JLB-2A © 2006 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 315 4 ISSN 1440-6845 Review of honeybee nutrition research and practices Publication No. 06/052 Project No. JLB-2A The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable industries. The information should not be relied upon for the purpose of a particular matter. Specialist and/or appropriate legal advice should be obtained before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any material in this document. The Commonwealth of Australia, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the authors or contributors do not assume liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from any person's use or reliance upon the content of this document. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Dr J L. Black AM FTSE FAIAST John L Black Consulting Locked Bag 21 Warrimoo NSW 2774 Phone: 02 4753 6231 Fax: 02 4753 6295 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4819 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in May 2006 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword This review identifies the current status of knowledge on the nutrition of honeybees and how this knowledge could be applied to improve the focus of research and the practice of honey production in Australia. Suboptimal nutrition is frequently associated with the use of eucalyptus species with high nectar flows, but with small quantities of pollen and/or low quality pollen. The major production issues related to the nutrition of honeybees in Australia are outlined in the Report. The sources of nutrients, their intake and digestibility by honeybees and differences in nutritional quality between pollens are discussed. The nutrient requirements of honeybees are determined as quantitatively as possible and used to suggest specifications for artificial nectar and pollen substitutes. The contribution of previous and current RIRDC funded research to knowledge of honeybee nutrition is outlined and preliminary recommendations made on directions for future research and application of knowledge to practice within the honeybee industry. Following a two-day meeting with apiarists and scientists involved in honeybee research, a revised integrated program for honeybee nutrition research is recommended for RIRDC to consider for funding. This report, an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1500 research publications, forms part of our Honeybee R&D program, which aims to improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments The assistance from Rob Manning, Doug Somerville, Susan Burrows, Keith McIlvride, Des Cannon and Kieren Sunderland in providing background information about the Australian honeybee industry and publications for the review is greatly appreciated. My thanks are given also to Caitlin Reed and Lyndy Scott for the literature searches and collation of many of the publications. iv Contents Foreword................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary .............................................................................................................vii Background ....................................................................................................................................... vii Major review findings ....................................................................................................................... vii RIRDC honeybee projects................................................................................................................... x Initially suggested research priorities................................................................................................. xi Recommended procedures for adoption............................................................................................. xi Final recommendations for an integrated honeybee nutrition research program ............................... xi Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 Honeybee production issues in Australia related to nutrition...........................................2 The ‘skinny bee’ syndrome ................................................................................................................. 2 Low bee numbers in colonies prior to a targeted honey flow ............................................................. 2 Susceptibility to and effects of diseases .............................................................................................. 2 Effects of nutrition on productive functions of bees..........................................................5 Growth and body composition ............................................................................................................ 5 Lifespan and foraging capacity ........................................................................................................... 8 Reproductive capacity of a colony and sex differentiation ................................................................. 9 Sources of nutrients for bees .............................................................................................10 Nectar ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Honeydew.......................................................................................................................................... 10 Pollen................................................................................................................................................. 11 Composition............................................................................................................................................... 11 Effect of environment on the composition of pollen ................................................................................. 14 Intake and Digestibility ..................................................................................................................... 14 Pollen......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Pollen attractiveness.......................................................................................................................... 21 Nutrient requirements of bees ............................................................................................23 Main processes requiring nutrients.................................................................................................... 23 Energy ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Maintenance requirements......................................................................................................................... 23 Energy expenditure during activity ........................................................................................................... 24 Thermoregulation and air quality .............................................................................................................. 24 Comb building ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Colony energy requirements...................................................................................................................... 25 Protein and amino acids .................................................................................................................... 27 Amino acid requirements........................................................................................................................... 27 Protein requirements.................................................................................................................................. 28 Protein and amino acid content of pollen compared with estimated requirements.................................... 30 Fats, fatty acids and sterols...............................................................................................................
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