The Use of Uniform Honeybee Colonies to Evaluate Supplementary Test Rations for the Stimulation of Brood Rearing

Summary

Colonies made up of 1·4 kg worker bees and a queen of known age were used to evaluate 4 protein rations and sugar syrup for stimulation of brood rearing; 100 of the 120 colonies had queens of known genetic constitution. A significant difference existed between the brood production on colonies fed one of the protein rations (3 forms of Wheast and 1 of mixed proteins) and colonies not so supplied. The most effective ration for stimulating brood rearing was Wheast in pellet form. Colonies with a queen of unknown genetic constitution, not bred or selected for high egg production, produced a similar amount of brood to colonies with a queen of known genetic constitution and reportedly bred for high egg production.