Natural pollen diets and their effects on hemolymph protein levels in honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

VANAGAS L.; BASUALDO M.; OLIVA M.; RODRIGUEZ E.M.; SOLANA H.; BEDASCARRASBURE E.

Montpellier, Francia

Congreso; 41er Congreso Internacional Apimondia; 2009

Hemolymph protein measurements in honey bees, Apis mellifera L., were used to determine the efficiency of natural source pollen. Groups of newly emerged worker bees were caged and fed on a mixture of pollen of high protein concentration (HPC), low protein concentration (LPC) and non-protein diet (control). Protein content in hemolymph was determined at different ages of adult life using Bradford technique. Data was analyzed using a mixed model with repetitive measurements with PROC MIXED of SAS. There was a significative difference in the interaction age-treatment in the different ages analysed (P