THE EFFECTS OF NINE POLLEN DIETS ON BROODREARING OF HONEYBEES

Abstract

Pollens were evaluated with a bioassay that measures the relative nutritional efficiency of diets of young honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) rearing brood from eggs to the sealed cell stage of larval development. Relative nutritional efficiency was determined by calculation of the number of sealed cells produced per gram of diet consumed per bee per day. Saguaro (Cereus giganteus) pollen was used as the standard against which other pollens were tested. The bioassay results of pollens collected in 1977 showed that a diet of saguaro was more efficient than diets of cottonwood (Populus deltoides), but not of almond (Prunus dulcis). Bioassays of the pollens collected in 1978 showed that saguaro was more efficient than london rocket mustard (Sisymbrium irio) but not bladderpod mustard (Lesquerella gordoni). No brood was raised on a diet of dandelion pollen (Taraxacum officinale) or of dandelion fortified with L-arginine.