<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), influences honey bee feed intake and longevity. The objective of this study was to research the effect of six dietary ALA levels on the growth and development of Apis mellifera ligustica colonies. In the early spring, a total of 36 honey bee colonies of equal size and queen quality were randomly allocated into 6 groups. The six groups of honey bees were fed a basal diet with supplementation of ALA levels at 0 (group A), 2 (group B), 4 (group C), 6 (group D), 8 (group E), and 10% (group F). In this study, there were significant effects of pollen substitute ALA levels on the feeding amounts of the bee colony, colony population, sealed brood amount, and weight of newly emerged workers (P&lt;0.05). The workers’ midgut Lipase (LPS) activity of group C was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P&lt;0.01). The worker bees in groups B, C, and D had significantly longer lifespans than those in the other groups (P&lt;0.05). However, when the diets had ALA concentrations of more than 6%, the mortality of the honey bees increased (P&lt;0.01). These results indicate that ALA levels of 2 ~ 4% of the pollen substitute were optimal for maintaining the highest reproductive performance and the digestion and absorption of fatty acids in honey bees during the period of spring multiplication. Additionally, ALA levels of 2 ~ 6% of the pollen substitute, improved worker bee longevity.</p></abstract>

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), influences honey bee feed intake and longevity. The objective of this study was to research the effect of six dietary ALA levels on the growth and development of Apis mellifera ligustica colonies. In the early spring, a total of 36 honey bee colonies of equal size and queen quality were randomly allocated into 6 groups. The six groups of honey bees were fed a basal diet with supplementation of ALA levels at 0 (group A), 2 (group B), 4 (group C), 6 (group D), 8 (group E), and 10% (group F). In this study, there were significant effects of pollen substitute ALA levels on the feeding amounts of the bee colony, colony population, sealed brood amount, and weight of newly emerged workers (P<0.05). The workers’ midgut Lipase (LPS) activity of group C was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P<0.01). The worker bees in groups B, C, and D had significantly longer lifespans than those in the other groups (P<0.05). However, when the diets had ALA concentrations of more than 6%, the mortality of the honey bees increased (P<0.01). These results indicate that ALA levels of 2 ~ 4% of the pollen substitute were optimal for maintaining the highest reproductive performance and the digestion and absorption of fatty acids in honey bees during the period of spring multiplication. Additionally, ALA levels of 2 ~ 6% of the pollen substitute, improved worker bee longevity.

Nutritional Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid on Honey Bee Colony Development (Apis Mellifera L.)

College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Daizong Road No.61, Shandong 271000 Tai’ an, China

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), influences honey bee feed intake and longevity. The objective of this study was...

Nutritional Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid on Honey Bee Colony Development (Apis Mellifera L.)

Published Online: Dec 09, 2015

Page range: 63 - 72

Received: Feb 01, 2015

Accepted: Nov 09, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2015-0023

Keywords
alpha-linolenic acid, Apis mellifera ligustica, colonies development, digestive enzyme, feeding trial, longevity

© by Baohua Xu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Nutritional Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid on Honey Bee Colony Development (Apis Mellifera L.)

Published Online: Dec 09, 2015

Page range: 63 - 72

Received: Feb 01, 2015

Accepted: Nov 09, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jas-2015-0023

Keywordsalpha-linolenic acid, Apis mellifera ligustica, colonies development, digestive enzyme, feeding trial, longevity

© by Baohua Xu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
alpha-linolenic acid, Apis mellifera ligustica, colonies development, digestive enzyme, feeding trial, longevity