Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) About Beekeeping

Remember, Honey bees play a crucial role in pollinating wild plants with substantial implications for economy and food supply, as well as for our natural ecosystems. But a suddenly death of more than one-third of honey bee colonies in North America during the past years, which is termed as colony collapse disorder, or CCD, interrupted to provide their continuous services as pollinators for flowering plants.

Among the factors more frequently associated with honeybee die-offs are the ectoparasitic Varroa mites and the endoparasitic microsporidia Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae.

Honey bees and their parasites, are the basis of studies conducted during the past several decades. And this studies contributed to our knowledge on honeybee behavior for specific immune-based defenses.

04. Honey Bee Nutrition and Health

As per Morse and Calderone, 2000, Honey bees pollinate about $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year. And (as per Atkins et al., 1975), about 1/3 of our diet directly or indirectly we obtain from the crops which are pollinated by honeybees. Even, some crops, such as berries, cherries, and almonds depend on honey bee pollination exclusively.

Now (Smith et al., 2013), the health of honeybees has been challenged by new pathogens, parasites, and pests as well as pesticides. Additionally (Decourtye et al., 2010), the lack of availability of pollen and nectar has seriously reduced the honey bee lifespan and immune defence.

All these above factors impacted in a large reduction in the global bee population. Only in the United States, about 30% of Apiary honey bees die each year and in the winter which is two times more than acceptable (vanEngelsdorp et al., 2012) by beekeepers.

Since 2007, (CCD) Colony Collapse Disorder has brought much attention to everybody including politicians, and scientists. Colony Collapse Disorder is the abnormal situation that occurs when the majority of worker bees leave the colony, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen.

But the cause of CCD has not been found yet. However, CCD is assumed to be the risk factors from biotic and abiotic sources. It’s commonly believe that Honey bee nutrition is one of the most fundamental factors. Nutrition will influence honey bee health and impact their capabilities to combat parasites, pathogens, and other environmental stressors (Atkins et al., 1975).

 

As per Atkins et al., 1975, Pollen demand of Honey bees is age-specific. For example: adults start consuming pollen a few hours after emerging. Pollen intake reaches a peak around 5–6 days. After they start feeding the brood the peak pollen consumption occurs and it lasts about 10 days which is the time spent on feeding tasks.

(Atkins et al., 1975): After 10 days (brood feeding period), pollen consumption is rapidly and gradually reduced, while workers stop their nursing behavior.

As per Hersch et al., 1978, Pollen consumption contributes Honey Bees to building flight muscles. The accumulation of Vg protein, which is a major component of brood food, secreted by the HPGs (as per Amdam et al., 2004b; Guidugli et al., 2005).

(Hagedorn and Moeller, 1968), Poor pollen supplies will result in a delay of the maturation of flight muscles, and also reduced development of the HPGs (Alqarni, 2006; Maurizio, 1954).

As per Cage studies (Barker and Lehner, 1974), the adult honey bees can survive for a long time even without eating pollen. However, with the pollen or protein supplements, they’ll live much longer (Manning and Rutkay, 2007; Schmidt et al., 1987, 1995); Maurizio, 1954.

05. Health Benefits of Beekeeping

Beekeeping is not only help beekeepers, rather it helps consumers in several ways as mentioned in the attached link above.