Biologically active feeding of bee colonies in spring

Abstract

Introduction Environmental degradation, including pesticide stress on the environment, reduction of natural feed resources, monoculture farming in agriculture and the reduction of the nectar productivity of honey plants due to climate change negatively affect the nutritional status of honey bees and create the need for the use of additional biologically active animal feed. Purpose. The goal of the work was to study the effectiveness of methods of feeding bees with biologically active fertilizers in the spring period. Methods. The research was carried out in March-April 2022 on 10 bee colonies of the Ukrainian population on a private apiary in Bila Tserkva Raion, Kyiv Oblast. The selection of bee colonies for research was carried out by the method of analogues by strength, number of brood and feed. Natural honey from herbs, bee pollen from phacelia and therapeutic and prophylactic drug Bivita + (TM BeeWell) were used as components to create a complete feeding of bee colonies. Results and Discussion. Feedings based on natural honey from different herbs in the form of candy and honey diluted with water are not equally used by bee colonies of the Ukrainian population. According to the results of the conducted studies, it is most effective to feed bee colonies in spring at an average daily temperature of +6...+ 15 by honey diluted with water with a biologically active Bivita+ supplement, which bees used 100 ml per 18 hours. Other variants of bee feedings were used with less intensity in such a sequence: candy from Bivita, honey diluted with water with a phacelia bee pollen, honey diluted with water without additives, candy with a phacelia bee pollen. Candy and honey diluted with water with the addition of bee pollen were used by bees the worst. Prospects for further research are to develop a year-round scheme of feeding bee colonies using biologically active substances in order to fully nourish the bees.