Effect of variations in sugar presentation to honey bees (Apis mellifera) on their collection of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) pollen

Abstract

Trials were conducted to establish appropriate parameters for feeding sugar syrup to honey bee colonies to increase kiwifruit pollen collection. All the groups of colonies fed sugar syrup collected significantly more kiwifruit pollen pellets than the control colonies for at least part of each trial. The type of feeder (top or division-board feeders) and the concentration of syrup (1M or 2M) had no effect on the amount of kiwifruit pollen collected. The grade of sugar (white or industrial raw) had no effect on the total amount of pollen collected. Feeding dry sugar did not increase the number of kiwifruit pollen pellets collected.

Keywords:

• kiwifruit
• honey bees
• sugar syrup feeding
• pollen collection
• Actinidia deliciosa
• Apis mellifera