蜜蜂春季增长阶段饲料适宜蛋白质水平的研究

早春将群势、蜂王年龄和质量基本一致的30群意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola,随机分为5个处理组和1个对照组。处理组分别饲喂蛋白质水平为20%、25%、30%、35%和40%的5种代用花粉饲料,对照组饲喂油菜花粉,观测饲料蛋白质水平对蜂群群势、取食量、初生重以及蜂体组织蛋白含量的影响。结果表明对照组中蜜蜂对油菜花粉的取食量最高,但仅显著高于蛋白质水平为40%的饲料(P<0.05);蛋白质水平为25%、30%、35%的处理组群势增长差异不显著(P>0.05),但均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);随着饲料蛋白质水平升高,工蜂初生重逐渐升高,在35%到达最高值,随后又下降;饲喂蛋白质水平为20%、25%、30%饲料的蜂体组织蛋白含量与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05),饲喂蛋白质水平为35%、40%饲料的蜜蜂体组织蛋白含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。     

蜜蜂人工代用花粉中适宜钙磷水平的初步研究

钙磷是蜜蜂饲粮中必需的常量元素。为了探讨蜜蜂人工代用花粉中适宜的钙磷水平,本试验选取蜂王、群势基本一致的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola 70群,随机分为14个组,每组5群蜂,前12组饲喂采用均匀设计法配制的不同钙磷水平的人工代用花粉。第13组饲喂不加钙磷的人工代用花粉为负对照,第14组饲喂纯油菜花粉为正对照。试验从春繁开始,到刺槐流蜜期结束为止。试验期间测定蜂群的采食量、蜂群群势、幼蜂初生重,成蜂蜂体组织内钙磷含量。结果表明:当人工代用花粉中钙磷水平分别为0,0.65%时,蜂群的采食量、蜂群群势、幼蜂初生重均取得最大值;成蜂蜂体组织内钙含量与人工代用花粉中钙磷含量成正相关,成蜂蜂体组织内磷含量与人工代用花粉中钙磷含量之间没有相关性。     

花蜜中酚类物质对群落中同花期植物传粉的影响

显花植物分泌花蜜以奖励传粉昆虫为其提供的传粉服务.许多植物分泌的花蜜中除了糖和氨基酸等物质外,还含有与植物抗虫有关的次生代谢物质,如生物碱和多酚.饲喂试验表明传粉蜂类偏爱采集含有这些次生代谢物质的花蜜.因此,花蜜中的次生代谢物质对分泌这类花蜜的植物传粉具有进化和生态上的意义.但是,花蜜中的次生代谢物质是否会影响群落中其它同花期植物的传粉尚不清楚.在2009年3-5月份,在西双版纳永久样地就中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana)的传粉行为进行研究,比较了两种饲喂条件下,整个蜂群采集花蜜的花粉种类和单个采集蜂携带的花粉团的花粉种类,以及采集蜂蜜囊中花蜜的含糖量(一组饲喂30％蔗糖糖浆,以下简称“喂纯糖浆组”另一组饲喂同样糖浆但含有0.01％槲皮素,以下简称“喂酚糖浆组”).研究结果表明:饲喂两种不同糖浆的蜂群拜访的植物种类数量上没有明显差异.但是,两组采集工蜂所选择采集植物花粉种类却存在明显差异,它们采集的花粉都包含了一些特有的花粉种类.另外,两组采集工蜂所采集含有2种以上花粉种类花粉团的蜜蜂数量存在明显差异,喂酚糖浆组明显高于饲喂纯糖浆组.两组工蜂蜜囊中花蜜的含糖量也存在显著差异,喂酚糖浆组工蜂蜜囊中花蜜的含糖量明显高于喂纯糖浆组.因此,喂酚糖浆组的工蜂拜访植物的专一性比较低,在一次采集过程中倾向拜访花蜜中含糖量高的植物.花蜜中酚类物质增加了群落中同花期植物之间的花粉传播,从而降低了整个群落的传粉效率.     

转Bt基因玉米Bt11花粉对玉米螟赤眼蜂繁殖和存活的影响

在室内评价了表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的转基因抗虫玉米Bt11花粉作为食物对玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae雌蜂寿命、繁殖力、子代羽化数和性比的影响。结果显示,Bt11玉米花粉中含有115.13±7.29 ng/g FW Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白。饲喂水+Bt玉米花粉和水+对照玉米花粉的雌蜂寿命、繁殖力和子代羽化数明显高于只提供水的处理,但性比没有显著差异。饲喂10%蜂蜜水的雌蜂寿命、繁殖力和子代羽化数与饲喂10%蜂蜜水+Bt玉米或10%蜂蜜水+对照玉米花粉的处理雌蜂相似,没有显著差异。饲喂水+玉米花粉和只提供水的各处理的寿命、繁殖力和子代羽化数均显著低于蜂蜜水+玉米花粉和只提供蜂蜜水的各个处理,但性比显著高。饲喂水+Bt玉米花粉与水+对照玉米花粉之间以及蜂蜜水+Bt玉米花粉与蜂蜜水+对照玉米花粉之间的寿命、繁殖力和子代羽化数没有显著差异。由此得出结论,同只提供水相比,玉米花粉可以提高玉米螟赤眼蜂的寿命和繁殖力。表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的Bt11玉米花粉对玉米螟赤眼蜂的寿命、繁殖力、子代羽化数和性比无不利影响。     

不同水平亮氨酸对繁殖期意大利蜜蜂蜂群群势及工蜂发育的影响

【目的】评价日粮中不同水平亮氨酸对繁殖期意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica蜂群群势及工蜂发育的影响。【方法】选取重庆荣昌本地繁殖期意大利蜜蜂21群,随机分为7组,分别饲喂添加0,15.30,17.50,26.25,35.00,43.75和52.5 g/kg亮氨酸的试验日粮,每12 d测定各组蜂群群势、封盖子量、蜂群取食量和营造王台情况,24 d后测定蜂群采集行为、工蜂初生重、工蜂虫体蛋白质含量及工蜂寿命。【结果】当亮氨酸添加水平为43.75和52.50 g/kg时能够显著提高繁殖期意大利蜜蜂的蜂群群势、封盖子量、蜂群取食量及采集行为(P0.05)。与空白对照组相比,基础日粮组及各亮氨酸添加组的新出房蜂和6日龄幼虫体蛋白质含量较高(P0.05);各亮氨酸添加组的工蜂初生重显著高于空白组(P0.05);不同亮氨酸添加水平对意大利蜜蜂工蜂寿命影响较小。此外,亮氨酸添加水平26.25,35.00和43.75 g/kg能够在饲喂0-24 d时促进蜂群营造自然王台,刺激蜂群分蜂。【结论】配方日粮中43.75和52.5 g/kg的亮氨酸能够显著促进繁殖期意大利蜜蜂蜂群发展,其中43.75 g/kg的亮氨酸饲喂量还能刺激蜂群营造自然王台,激发蜂群分蜂。     

饲粮蛋白质水平对蜂群繁殖性能的影响

本试验旨在研究饲料蛋白质水平对蜜蜂产浆期繁殖性能的影响。选择35群群势、蜂王年龄和质量一致的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera L.,随机分为7组,分别饲喂蛋白质水平为15%、20%、25%、30%、35%及40%的试验饲粮并以油菜花粉作为对照,测定各组蜂群的繁殖性能。结果表明,试验前期,饲粮蛋白质水平对蜂群群势有显著性影响,然而在试验中后期,则无显著影响(P>0.05);随着饲粮蛋白质水平的增加,蜂王产卵力和工蜂初生重呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,与对照组相比差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

云南短头熊蜂的繁育特性研究

短头熊蜂Bombus breviceps是云南省优势蜂种,为更好地挖掘本土熊蜂资源,繁育农业授粉蜂群,本研究从云南3个地区（屏边、个旧和昆明）收集短头熊蜂蜂王后,在相同条件下饲养,统计分析其蜂王产卵前期、工蜂发育期、蜂群生长特性、群势、产卵蜂王率及蜂群可应用率等繁育特性指标。结果表明：3个地区工蜂的发育期相同,屏边地区的蜂王产卵前期最长,蜂群始见工蜂时间及工蜂数量达到6头、30头和60头的时间也最长,均显著高于个旧地区和昆明地区（P<0.05）。3个地区短头熊蜂的群势差异不显著（P>0.05）,但昆明地区的工蜂数量最少,显著低于屏边地区和个旧地区（P<0.05）,而子代蜂王数量显著高于屏边地区和个旧地区（P<0.05）,雄性蜂数量显著高于屏边地区（P<0.05）。昆明地区的产卵蜂王率和蜂群可应用率高于屏边地区和个旧地区。总体而言,云南的短头熊蜂群势强,产卵蜂王率75%以上,蜂群可应用率均在63%以上,易于人工繁育,具有重要的授粉利用价值。     

不同饲料原料对黄颡鱼表观消化率及消化酶活性的影响

实验研究黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)对分别含有豆粕、发酵豆粕、菜粕和发酵菜粕的4种饲料以及这4种原料的干物质、蛋白、能量及氨基酸的表观消化率, 为黄颡鱼饲料的配制提供科学依据, 同时测定不同原料对消化道胰蛋白酶、糜蛋白酶及淀粉酶活性以及血液指标谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、总蛋白及碱性磷酸酶的影响。结果显示: 黄颡鱼对4种原料的干物质的表观消化率有显著差异, 其利用率由高到低依次为豆粕、发酵豆粕、菜粕及发酵菜粕(P<0.05)。黄颡鱼对发酵菜粕的蛋白质表观消化率显著低于其他3种原料(P<0.05), 而4种原料能量的表观消化率没有显著性差异(P>0.05)。黄颡鱼对各原料蛋氨酸和组氨酸的表观消化率没有显著性差异且低于83%(P>0.05), 而对各原料中其他氨基酸的表观消化率均有显著性差异, 在85%—98%之间, 发酵菜粕各氨基酸的表观消化率显著低于其他3种原料(P<0.05)。胰蛋白酶活力在菜粕组显著高于其他原料组(P<0.05), 活力呈现出前肠>中后肠>胃的趋势, 糜蛋白酶活力在不同原料间无显著差异, 糜蛋白酶活力呈现胃>前肠>中后肠的趋势, 淀粉酶活性呈现前肠>胃>中后肠。血液指标谷草转氨酶在豆粕组显著高于其他原料组(P<0.05), 菜粕与发酵菜粕组最低, 而谷丙转氨酶、总蛋白、碱性磷酸酶在各原料组间没有显著性差异(P>0.05)。综上所述, 豆粕、发酵豆粕、菜粕和发酵菜粕均可以作为黄颡鱼饲料中优质的蛋白源。     

不同饲料对小峰熊蜂工蜂群发育的影响

糖和花粉对熊蜂的生长发育和繁殖起重要作用。本研究测定和分析了2种糖源（白砂糖、蜂蜜）和5种花粉（杏花粉、油菜花粉、向日葵花粉、玉米花粉、茶花粉）的饲料组合对小峰熊蜂Bombus hypocrita的无王工蜂群寿命、产卵前期时间、产卵量、幼虫拖出数、卵杯数、雄蜂出房时间和子代雄蜂数量的影响。结果表明： 只饲喂糖类食物时, 工蜂寿命显著短于有花粉的饲料组, 而且工蜂不产卵。含有花粉的各饲料组之间工蜂寿命存在显著差异, 饲喂玉米花粉的工蜂寿命小于其他4种花粉组。在工蜂产卵前期时间和卵杯数量方面, 10种含有花粉的饲料组之间差异不显著; 但在产卵量、幼虫拖出数、雄蜂出房时间和子代雄蜂数量等方面, 各饲料组之间差异较大。白砂糖和杏花粉组的产卵量最高; 杏花粉组和茶花粉组的幼虫拖出数量显著低于其他花粉组; 油菜花粉组和杏花粉组的雄蜂出房时间显著短于其他花粉组; 杏花粉组的子代雄蜂数量显著高于其他饲料组。结果显示不同饲料组合对小峰熊蜂工蜂群的发育影响很大。因此建议在熊蜂的人工繁育过程中, 在不同的发育阶段应给予不同的饲料配方。     

发酵豆粕和豆粕替代部分鱼粉对银鲑幼鱼生长性能、血清生化指标、肝脏抗氧化能力和免疫相关基因表达量的影响

为探究发酵豆粕和豆粕替代部分鱼粉对银鲑(Oncorhynchus kisutch)幼鱼生长性能、血清生化指标、肝脏抗氧化能力和免疫相关基因mRNA表达量的影响,试验设置4种等氮等脂等能的饲料(粗蛋白约为42%、粗脂肪约为15%):对照组为:添加41%鱼粉的饲料(FM组;鱼粉蛋白占比27%);试验组分别为在FM组中用豆粕替代部分鱼粉(SM组;鱼粉蛋白占比17%,豆粕蛋白占比10%)、在FM组中用豆粕和发酵豆粕混合替代部分鱼粉(FSM5组;鱼粉蛋白占比17%,豆粕蛋白占比5%,发酵豆粕蛋白占比5%)、在FM组中用发酵豆粕替代部分鱼粉(FSM10组;鱼粉蛋白占比17%,发酵豆粕蛋白占比10%),饲养体重为(102.25±0.24) g的银鲑幼鱼10周。生长结果表明, FSM10组的增重率、特定生长率、日增重率、肥满度与对照组没有显著差异(P>0.05); FSM5组特定生长率、增重率和日增重显著低于对照组(P<0.05),但显著高于SM组(P<0.05);各组间肝体比、脏体比和存活率没有显著差异(P>0.05)。肌肉成分结果显示,各组水分、灰分和粗蛋白没有显著差异(P...     

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) attraction to commercial pollen substitutes and wildflower pollen in vitro

Many beekeepers feed their western honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies artificial pollen substitutes to provide colonies with adequate nutrition during times of limited pollen quantity or quality. We provided caged worker bees commercially available pollen substitutes (AP23, MegaBee, UltraBee) and wildflower pollen in a choice-test to determine their relative attraction to/preference for the diets. We measured diet consumption by honey bees and observed honey bee behaviour to evaluate bee preferences for certain diets. The bees interacted with and consumed more wildflower pollen than they did any of the commercially available pollen substitutes. Our data suggest that bees have a strong preference for wildflower pollen over commercially available pollen substitutes.     

Longevity and reproductive success of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) fed different natural diets

The longevity and reproductive success of newly emerged, unfed adult Aethina tumida Murray assigned different diets (control = unfed; honey-pollen; honey; pollen; empty brood comb; bee brood; fresh Kei apples; and rotten Kei apples) were determined. Longevity in honey-fed small hive beetle adults (average maximum: 167 d) was significantly higher than on other diets. Small hive beetles fed empty brood comb lived significantly longer (average maximum: 49.8 d) than unfed beetles (average maximum: 9.6 d). Small hive beetle offspring were produced on honey-pollen, pollen, bee brood, fresh Kei apples, and rotten Kei apples but not on honey alone, empty brood comb, or in control treatments. The highest reproductive success occurred in pollen fed adults (1773.8 +/- 294.4 larvae per three mating pairs of adults). The data also show that A. tumida can reproduce on fruits alone, indicating that they are facultative parasites. The pupation success and sex ratio of small hive beetle offspring were also analyzed. Larvae fed pollen, honey-pollen, or brood had significantly higher pupation success rates of 0.64, 0.73, and 0.65 respectively than on the other diets. Sex ratios of emerging adults fed diets of pollen or brood as larvae were significantly skewed toward females. Because small hive beetle longevity and overall reproductive success was highest on foodstuffs located in honey bee colonies, A. tumida are efficient at causing large-scale damage to colonies of honey bees resulting in economic injury for the beekeeper. Practical considerations for the control of A. tumida are briefly discussed.     

The effects of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen reproductive potential on colony growth

Reproduction in species of eusocial insects is monopolized by one or a few individuals, while the remaining colony tasks are performed by the worker caste. This reproductive division of labor is exemplified by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), in which a single, polyandrous queen is the sole colony member that lays fertilized eggs. Previous work has revealed that the developmental fate of honey bee queens is highly plastic, with queens raised from younger worker larvae exhibiting higher measures in several aspects of reproductive potential compared to queens raised from older worker larvae. Here, we investigated the effects of queen reproductive potential (“quality”) on the growth and winter survival of newly established honey bee colonies. We did so by comparing the growth of colonies headed by “high-quality” queens (i.e., those raised from young worker larvae, which are more queen-like morphologically) to those headed by “low-quality” queens (i.e., those raised from older worker larvae, which are more worker-like morphologically). We confirmed that queens reared from young worker larvae were significantly larger in size than queens reared from old worker larvae. We also found a significant positive effect of queen grafting age on a colony’s production of worker comb, drone comb, and stored food (honey and pollen), although we did not find a statistically significant difference in the production of worker and drone brood, worker population, and colony weight. Our results provide evidence that in honey bees, queen developmental plasticity influences several important measures of colony fitness. Thus, the present study supports the idea that a honey bee colony can be viewed (at least in part) as the expanded phenotype of its queen, and thus selection acting predominantly at the colony level can be congruent with that at the individual level.     

Suitability of leguminous cover crop pollens as food source for the green lacewing Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Diversification of crops with species that provide suitable pollen for predators may reduce pest population on crops by enhancing predator effectiveness. In this paper we evaluated the suitability of leguminous cover crop pollens to the predatory green lacewing Chrysoperla externa (Hagen). The predator is commonly found in coffee agroecosystems and the plant species tested were pigeon pea and sunn hemp, which are used in organic coffee systems. Newly emerged females and males of C. externa were reared on diets containing pollen of pigeon pea, sunn hemp, or castor bean, used as a control. The reproductive success of C. externa was evaluated when females fed the pollen species and when honey was added to the diets, to verify the predator need for an extra carbohydrate source. Similar intrinsic growth rates were found for females fed on pigeon pea pollen and on sunn hemp pollen but these rates increased significantly when honey was added to the diets. Females fed with pigeon pea pollen plus honey and with sunn hemp pollen plus honey had higher intrinsic growth rates than those fed with castor bean pollen plus honey. Females fed on castor bean pollen only or on honey only, did not oviposit. Leguminous pollen species were equally suitable for C. externa especially when they were complemented with honey. The results suggest that to successfully enhance predator effectiveness, organic coffee plantation should be diversified with plant providing pollen in combination with plant providing nectar.     

Microalgae as a promising and sustainable nutrition source for managed honey bees

Managed honey bee colony losses are attributed to a number of interacting stressors, but many lines of evidence point to malnutrition as a primary factor. Commercial beekeepers have become increasingly reliant on artificial pollen substitute diets to nourish colonies during periods of forage scarcity and to bolster colony size before pollination services. These artificial diets may be deficient in essential macronutrients (proteins, lipids, prebiotic fibers), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), and antioxidants. Therefore, improving the efficacy of pollen substitutes can be considered vital to modern beekeeping. Microalgae are prolific sources of plant-based nutrition with many species exhibiting biochemical profiles that are comparable to natural pollen. This emerging feed source has been employed in a variety of organisms, including limited applications in honey bees. Herein, I introduce the nutritional value and functional properties of microalgae, extrapolating to central aspects of honey bee physiology and health. To conclude, I discuss the potential of microalgae-based feeds to sustainably provision managed colonies on an agricultural scale.     

The impact of caging the queens during the flow season on some biological activities of honeybee colonies

This study was achieved in a private apiary located in a banana farm in Sa El Hagar, Basioun, Gharbia, Egypt from August 15, 2019 to May 25, 2020, including the banana (Musa sp., Musaceae) flow season (August and September) and extend to Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L., Fabaceae) flow season (May). The study aimed to evaluate the effect of confining the queen during the banana flow season on the brood rearing, honey yield, and activation of worker's ovaries. Also, we determined the negative impact of caging the queen during the banana flow season on the activity of the colony in brood rearing, storing pollen, and honey yield after releasing the queen on 5 October, extending to the next flow season in May. The obtained results showed that the honeybee colonies with the caged queen produced significantly more honey yield and less brood production than the free queen ones during the banana flow season. Also, the caging of the queen did not affect the colony strength after releasing the queen despite the partial development of the ovaries of some workers, but they did not lay eggs. In addition, releasing the queens suppressed the ovaries of the laying workers. It can be concluded that caging the queen during the banana flow season helps the colonies to produce more honey yield without effect on the colony strength after releasing the queen despite the ovaries development of few workers without egg-laying.