Vol.50 No.1 2006 Content Violeta Ceksteryte, Jurgis Racys - The quality of syrups used for bee feeding before winter and their suitability for bee wintering 5 Magdalena Kazimierczak-Baryczko, Bożena Szymaś - Improvement of the composition of pollen substitute for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.),through implementation of probiotic preparations 15 Bożena Denisow, Małgorzata Wrzesień - The study of blooming and pollen efficiency of Adonis vernalis L. in xerothermic plant communities 25 Anna Wróblewska - Phacelia campanularia A. Gray - a source of pollen flow for insect pollinators 33 Adebayo A. Omoloye, Paul A. Akinsola - Foraging sources and effects of selected plant characters and weather variables on the visitation intensity of honeybee, Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Southwest Nigeria 39 Zbigniew Lipiński - The emotional nature of the worker honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) 51 Zbigniew Lipiński - The calming properties of the honeybee queen, youngbrood and older bees 65 Anna Wróblewska, Zofia Warakomska, Maria Koter - Pollen analysis of bee products from the North-Eastern Poland 73 THE QUALITY OF SYRUPS USED FOR BEE FEEDING BEFORE WINTER AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR BEE WINTERING Violeta Ceksteryte, Jurgis Racys Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Instituto Aleja 1, Akademija, 58344 Kedainiai distr. Received 31 March 2005; accepted 07 March 2006 Summary The quality of several inverted syrups was assessed: Bioinwert, Apiinvert, HI, GF56, GF85, GF56+GF85 and Pchelit. Variations in the quality of the syrups Bioinwert, Apiinvert and HI were determined in the experiments carried out in summer in the isolators after bees had deposited the food in the nucleus combs. Our tests showed that bees purified syrups. The sugar syrups Bioinwert A, Apiinvert A from 1999 and HI from 2001 had content of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) 85.9, 32.7 and 1.43 mg/kg, respectively. HMF declined when bees processed those syrups and deposited in the combs. The content of HMF in syrups Bioinwert B, Apiinvert B, HI amounted to 16.1, 2.64 and 0, respectively. The content of HMF in sugar syrups GF 85, GF 56, GF 85+GF 56 used for feeding wintering bees was 5.8, 48.0, 27.7 mg/kg. No HMF was identified in Pchelit. The food deposited in the nucleus combs by bees had more biological active components compared with the food fed to bees. Diastase activity does not exist in Bioinwert A from 1999 and 2000 nor does it in Apiinvert A from 1999. This component appears in Bioinwert B - 3.88 and 6.07 Gothe units and Apiinvert B - 6.69 Gothe units. Saccharose present in the syrups S (A) from 2000 and 2001 was 47.0% and 47.8%. Due to the effect of invertase present in the bee secretion, the syrups S (B) contained only 11.6 and 6.75 % of saccharose. Low invertase activity 2.18 and 16.9 IU was determined in Bioinwert A from 1999 and 2000, however the activity of this enzyme increased after processing of the syrups by bees - in the Bioinwert B from 1999 it amounted to 64.6 and 53.6 IU and in Apiinvert B to 41.9 UI. The sugar syrups GF 56, GF 85, GF 56+GF 85 and Pchelit were used for feeding wintering bees. The highest food consumption 1.9 kg/comb was identified for bees fed on GF 56, however those colonies reared fewer brood. In spring crystallisation of GF 56 syrup was observed in few cells of the comb. The strength of the bee colonies after wintering on this syrup slightly declined from 5 points estimated in the autumn to 4.5 estimated in the spring. The best wintering of bee colonies was observed on syrups Pchelit and GF 56+GF 85. The number of brood after wintering in those bee colonies in spring was 220 and 162 in hundred cells; the food consumption in those colonies was 1.4 and 1.5 kg/comb, respectively. All bee colonies survivied through winter. Keywords: inverted sugar syrup, diastase, invertase, hydroxymethylfurfural, wintering of bee colonies. Full text PDF Back to the top IMPROVEMENT OF THE COMPOSITION OF POLLEN SUBSTITUTE FOR HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera L.), THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF PROBIOTIC PREPARATIONS Magdalena Kazimierczak-Baryczko, Bożena Szymaś August Cieszkowski Agricultural University in Poznań, Department of Functional Insects Breeding, ul. Wojska Polskiego 71c, 60 - 625 Poznań, Poland. E-mail:beszymas@owl.au.poznan.pl Received 20 September 2005; accepted 28 March 2006 Summary The study addressed a laboratory evaluation of the effect of probiotic preparations addition on the nutritional value of a pollen substitute for honey bee. Investigations were carried out on worker bees Apis mellifera carnica, at a laboratory of the Department of Functional Insects Breeding, Agricultural University of Poznań, in the years 2002 and 2003. The substitute was made of the following constituents: potato protein, soybean meal, rapeseed meal, Candida utilis yeast, wheat flour, corn grits, soybean oil, lecithin, polfamix W, Vitazol AD3EC, and glucose with vitamin C. Individual constituents of the substitute were subjected to technological treatment: micronization, extrusion, and comminution to particles 150 ľm in diameter. Protein content of the substitute mixed with powdered sugar (1:1, w:w) reached 20%. In the experiments, 2 probiotic preparations were applied, that were added to the substitute in three doses immediately before administration to bees, i.e. "Biogen-N" (a biological stimulant of immunity and growth for piglets, calves, foals and kids in their early life, containing 4 strains of the genus Bifidobacterium bifidum and Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Pediococcus acidlactiti), and "Trilac" (a preparation restoring functions of gastrointestinal microflora in humans, containing, among others, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L.delbrueckii subsp.bulgaricum and Bifidobacterium bifidum). Total bacteria count per 1 mg of Biogen-N accounted for 11x109 and was similar to bacteria number in 1.267 g of Trilac. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the addition of probiotics had no significant influence on the increase in feed intake. Only in the first year of the study was the substitute supplemented with Biogen-N in a dose of 2 mg more readily consumed by the bees. The administration of probiotics decreased the number of fatal cases among bees. However, the decrease appeared to be statistically significant already after pollen substitute supplementation with the Trilac preparation in a dose of 1.267 g/100 g of substitute and with the Biogen-N preparation in a dose of 1mg. The addition of probiotic preparations to the substitute was found to stimulate the growth of the faucial gland and fat body. Keywords: honey bee feeding, pollen substitute, probiotics. Full text PDF Back to the top THE STUDY OF BLOOMING AND POLLEN EFFICIENCY OF Adonis vernalis L. IN XEROTHERMIC PLANT COMMUNITIES Bożena Denisow1, Małgorzata Wrzesień2 1Department of Botany, Laboratory of the Horticultural Plants Biology, Agricultural University, 20 - 950 Lublin, 15 Akademicka str., e-mail: bozena.denisow@ar.lublin.pl 2Department of Geobotany, Institute of Biology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 20 - 950 Lublin, 19 Akademicka str., e-mail: mseptember@tlen.pl Received 20 December 2005; accepted 17 May 2006 Summary The study was conducted in the years 2004 - 2005 using two populations of Adonis vernalis L. occurring in the Adonido-Brachypodietum pinnati community at Pliszczyn near Lublin and in the Brachypodio-Teucrietum community at Stawska Góra near Chełm. The blooming of A. vernalis in the Lublin region occurs from the first days of April to the end of May. The species is characterized by an early, daytime pattern of flower opening limited to 4 hours during the day. The habitat conditions significantly modified the traits that influenced pollen efficiency. Depending on the community and study year blooming abundance was from 97 to 325 flowers ˇ 1m-2. At the Pliszczyn site the plants bloomed more abundantly than at Stawska Góra and were characterized by a greater number of stamens, higher mass of pollen delivered and higher pollen viability. The average mass of pollen supplied by 100 anthers of A. vernalis was from 2.04 mg do 3.18 mg and it correlated positively with the size of anthers. In thermophilous communities A. vernalis supplies on average 3 - 10 g ˇ 10 m-2 of pollen. Due to the early blooming period it is a valuable amount so that the preservation of natural A.vernalis sites should be promoted and its cultivation should be encouraged in gardens thereby enriching pollen supply mainly for bees living in the wild. Keywords: Adonis vernalis L., blooming, pollen abundance, xerothermic swards. Full text PDF Back to the top Phacelia campanularia A. Gray - A SOURCE OF POLLEN FLOW FOR INSECT POLLINATORS Anna Wróblewska Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Akademicka 15, 20 - 950 Lublin, Poland. E-mail: anna.wroblewska@ar.lublin.pl Received 10 January 2006; accepted 13 May 2006 Summary The objective of the study was Phacelia campanularia, an annual species of Hydrophyllaceae family. During 2003 - 2005 seasons, the investigations of flowering period and pollen efficiency were carried out under climatic conditions of the Lublin area. Weight of pollen was estimated by Warakomska's modified ether method (1972), pollen grains were measured according to the recommendations by Andrejev (1926). The results showed that the blooming of Phacelia campanularia started in first decade of June and lasted till the third decade of July (37 - 45 days). The mean number of flowers developed per one plant during the vegetation season reached from 388.7 in 2004, to 423.3 in 2003 and 437.8 in 2005. The flower of Phacelia has five stamens, the anthers of which start dehiscing and releasing pollen at morning hours. Pollen grains are round-flattened with furrows and smooth exine. Their dimensions ranged between 18.88 - 19.63 ľm in polar view and 21.32 - 22.15 ľm in equatorial view. The mean pollen weight produced by one flower reached 1.05 mg in 2003, 1.42 mg in 2004 and 1.35 mg in 2005, i.e. 444.25 mg, 552.92 mg and 592.34 mg per one plant respectively. A square meter of a phacelia plot may supply 4.22 - 5.63 g of pollen. Keywords: Phacelia campanularia, flowering, pollen flow. Full text PDF Back to the top FORAGING SOURCES AND EFFECTS OF SELECTED PLANT CHARACTERS AND WEATHER VARIABLES ON THE VISITATION INTENSITY OF HONEYBEE, Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae) IN THE SOUTHWEST NIGERIA Adebayo A. Omoloye, Paul A. Akinsola Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: aa.omoloye@mail.ui.edu.ng Running Head: Foraging intensity of honeybee in Nigeria. Received 17 February 2006; accepted 15 May 2006 Summary This study identified field foraging sources and the effects of selected plant characters and weather variables on the visitation intensities of the honeybee, Apis mellifera adansonii in selected sites in Ibadan and Ogbomosho, Southwest Nigeria. Results indicated a total of 41 foraging sources of which 36 were common to the two sites while two other species were found to be exclusive to each of the studied locations. The activities of this bee species varied on the identified foraging sources for pollen or for nectar collection. Even when a plant; Helianthus annuus produced both pollen and nectar at the same time, visitation was for one and never for both pollen and nectar by a particular bee. The intensity of visitation was significantly higher (p<0.05) on Cochlospermum tinctorium (2732 times) than on other foraging sources being lowest on Helianthus annuus (184). Tall plants with comparatively larger size petals were preferred. No significant relationship was established between flower colour and visitation by the bees. Wind speed significantly (p<0.05) affected the intensity of visitation but the correlation between bee visitation and other weather parameters of solar radiation, temperature and humidity was negative. The peak of foraging activities of the bees was between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time depending on the daily weather condition. Keywords: Foraging sources, visitation intensity, Apis mellifera adansonii, plant characters, weather variables Full text PDF Back to the top THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF THE WORKER HONEYBEE (Apis mellifera L.) Zbigniew Lipiński 10 - 736 Olsztyn, Janina Wengris str 8. Poland. E-mail: Lipinski@sprint.com.pl Received 07 March 2006; accepted 12 April 2006 Summary This psychobiological analysis of the manner of the expression of some stress honeybee behaviours has revealed that the arousal of it emotional brain structures and subsequent changes in perception is the modus vivendi for all it stereotypical activities and behavioural development as well. The author presents different aspects of objective and subjective symptoms of the emotional nature of bee behaviours. In the analysis, there is new psychobiological interpretation of the nature of bee dances, classified as stereotypies***. This neurotic, psychogenic behaviour serves as a motoric abreaction of surplus of emotional agitation. This paper contains a short description of the hypothesized structural and molecular background of the emotional reaction of bees. The author presents juvenile hormone (JH-3) as the modulator of all emotional reactions in honeybees, considering its sensitizing effect on mushroom bodies (MBs). The author also presents behavioural evidences that emotional affects can influence senso-perceptual consciousness of the worker honeybee. Keywords: Apis mellifera, honeybees, emotions, cognition, perception, emotional affects, juvenile hormone, anxious, fear. Full text PDF Back to the top THE CALMING PROPERTIES OF THE HONEYBEE QUEEN, YOUNG BROOD AND OLDER BEES Zbigniew Lipiński 10 - 736 Olsztyn, Janina Wengris str 8. Poland. E-mail: Lipinski@sprint.com.pl Received 07 March 2006; accepted 12 April 2006 Summary The aim of this study is to present the psychobiological manner in which the calming properties of the queen substance (QS) influence worker bee behaviour and behavioural development. The author examines the mechanism of control of bee emotions by QS via suppression of juvenile hormone production already at the level of mushroom bodies (MBs). The calming, slightly tranquillizing (ataractic) effect of QS on especially nest worker bees is usually enforced by similarly acting pheromones of the young brood and older workers. The article also puts forward a hypothesis of the possible role of QS in the control of some bee stereotypies and primary emotional affects type of anxious and fear. Keywords: Apis mellifera, honeybees, emotions, queen substance, opioid system, behavioural development, juvenile hormone, anxious, fear. Full text PDF Back to the top POLLEN ANALYSIS OF BEE PRODUCTS FROM THE NORTH-EASTERN POLAND Anna Wróblewska, Zofia Warakomska, Maria Koter Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Akademicka 15, 20 - 950 Lublin, Poland. E-mail: anna.wroblewska@ar.lublin.pl Received 14 March 2006; accepted 09 May 2006 Summary The north-eastern region of Poland currently comprises the provinces: Warmian-Masurian, the northern part of Podlasie and the eastern part of Pomerania. The area is a lowland full of lakelands and forests and abounding in natural vegetation. Mainly recreation sites occur in the region recognized as the "green lungs of Poland", poorly developed and only very slightly polluted by industry. In the years 1971 - 2004, 104 samples of honey, 10 samples of bee bread and 6 samples of pollen loads were collected from various sites in the region. The material was subjected to pollen analysis to establish which forage plants provide food for bees there. Pollen analysis was made according to the protocols by Louveaux et al. (1970) and Moar (1985). Palynological classification was done according to Zander (1935). Honeys were assessed based on the Polish Standard PN-88/A-77625 "Miód pszczeli" (Bee Honey) (1988) which expired on 1.01.2003. However, the standard does not contradict the ruling by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of 3.10.2003 as far as the commercial quality of honey is concerned. Within the samples 77 honeys including 35 multifloral honeys and 42 specific honeys were compatible with the Polish Standard (PN): 37 of Brassicaceae, 4 of Tilia, and 1 of Calluna. Of the specific honeys that failed to meet the standard 10 were of Salix, 10 of Trifolium and 1 of Lotus, Ornithopus, Phacelia, Rubus type and Taraxacum type each. Individual groups of honey, bee bread and pollen loads were rated for the frequency and percentage of pollen from the respective forage plants. The results of pollen analysis of the bee products were listed in tables and shown in centrograms. Keywords: Pollen analysis, bee products, north-eastern Poland. Full text PDF Back to the top Homepage