Abstract
Poor food quality is likely to be detrimental to the lifespan of Apis mellifera. The objective of this study was to evaluate comparatively the effects of a mainly carbohydrate substitute sugar patty, a pollen substitute (both Mann Lake Ltd. products), and bee bread produced by the bees on worker longevity. Sugar patty ensured the longest bee survival, similar to that with the addition of 5% bee bread, whereas adding 5% or higher pollen substitute increased bee mortality.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.