Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 53 No. 4, 2022.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.53.4.11
Nutritional stress in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies: causes, effects and preventions of colony losses
Arnold Majoroš
; Luna Vet veterinary ambulance, Temerin, Srbija
Ivana Tlak Gajger
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Ivana Smodiš Škerl
; Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Honey bees constantly regulate the colony nutritional requirements and adapt metabolic activities to the foraging activities. A high dependence on the availability of floral resources for nutrients like nectar and pollen is necessary for proper colony development and survival. During the dearth period and adverse weather conditions, the queen decreases egg- laying, nurse worker bees selectively feed brood and shape the colony based on the food reserves stored in combs and the body. To ensure the spring population of bees is highly developed and ready for pasture, the beekeeper must observe the food reserves in the hives and additionally feed colonies with supplements. After honey harvest, the colonies urgently require a substitute, usually a sugar syrup to sustain the population and keep the queen laying eggs. However, longer dearth periods, unpredictable climate change and the large agricultural landscapes with
monocultures including a rapidly changing environment seriously increase malnutrition, leading to the irreversible starvation phase in colonies. For the health of the honey bee colony, it is essential to have constant pollen availability from spring to winter. However, nectar and pollen availability varies through the seasons and is becoming unpredictable. Unavoidably, the colony is vulnerable and a constant target of bee pathogens. The interactions of pathogens (Nosema spp., Varroa destructor, viruses, bacteria and fungi) and low pollen quality and quantity in an affected honey bee colony depletes the population and reduces winter survival. It is therefore crucial to identify all possible causes for nutritional stress in colonies and adopt all important key points to prevent starvation and minimise winter losses.
Keywords
honey bee colony; Apis mellifera; malnutrition; starvation; pathogens; winter losses
Hrčak ID:
266285
URI
Publication date:
23.12.2021.
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