The effect of the method of preservation of bee honey on the development of the pharyngeal gland in honey bees Apis mellifera L

Abstract

Modern agricultural systems involve the use of large monocultures, which significantly limits the variety of flowers for bees. The article presents data on the biochemical composition of monofloral bee pollen and its influence on the development of pharyngeal glands in honey bees. The conducted studies give reason to believe that the protein content in bee pollen depends on the species origin and the preservation method. The studied samples for protein content show that its amount ranges from 11.9 to 24.9 %. The maximum amount of protein was found in fresh rapeseed and apple bee pollen. To study the influence of monofloral diets on the growth and development of the pharyngeal gland, 9 groups of analogous bee families were formed, 3 in each, which were fed three types of feed. The first type is fresh bee pollen from the following plants: apple tree, dandelion, winter rapeseed, buckwheat, clover, chestnut, raspberry. The second type is a similar bee pollen, only after a year of deep freezing storage. The ration of the third species consisted of the indicated bee pollen only in the process of harvesting it was dried. Along with this, the formed group of bee families was divided into two more subgroups. Some consumed mixed feed in equal proportions, others did not have any protein feed. The duration of the experiment was 15 days. On the 10th day, the development of acini of the pharyngeal gland was determined. The morphometry of the acini and the dynamics of vesicle filling indicate that the best indicators were found in the group of bees that consumed mixed bee pollen. A highly beneficial increase in the length and width of the acini of the pharyngeal gland was revealed by 36.4 and 34.7 % compared to bees that did not consume pollen at all. A group of bees that received fresh rapeseed and apple seed in their diet fully demonstrated their potential for royal jelly production. The worst development of the pharyngeal gland was found in the group of bees that consumed dried dandelion nectar. In this group of bees, the area of the acini ranged from 15.5 to 16.4 thousand μm2. The relationship between the protein content in the diet and the degree of development of the pharyngeal gland was revealed. Of the researched methods of its preservation, the conditions of deep freezing turned out to be the best. The use of experimental monofloral diets has a negative effect on the internal indicators of the body of honey bees. Key words: Apis mellifera L., pharyngeal gland, nutrition, protein, bee pollen, pollen storage.