Chaudhary, O. PRathee, Mandeep2022-10-122022-10-122020-01https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810188825The present investigations were carried out at the apiary located at College of Agriculture, Kaul, CCS HAU, Hisar to evaluate the effect of feeding different carbohydrate sources with and without pollen on Apis mellifera L. colonies during 2017 dearth period. A total of 30 A. mellifera bee colonies in standard Langstroth hives were tested under two sets of experiments i.e. without pollen and with pollen (80 g/colony/week), and each set had five treatments [4 carbohydrates sources (500 g/colony/week): sugar syrup, jaggery, liquid glucose, high fructose rice syrup and 1 control (no feeding)]. During 2018, jaggery was ruled out and remaining carbohydrate sources were fed @ 750 g/colony/week with high protein (23%) and low protein pollen (18%). Observations were recorded on pollen income, colony growth parameters, colony weight, incidence of insect-pests, diseases and mites, robbing, bee mortality, deformities, feed consumption, chemical and organoleptic analysis of honey, survey of bee flora, melissopalynology of pollen loads, their protein content and calorific value. Economics of feeding treatments was evaluated alonth with colony performance in ensuing honey flow seasons. Based on two years of studies, it was concluded that experimental area had severe dearth of nectar and pollen providing floral plants from June to October during both the years. In the absence of feeding, A. mellifera colonies could not survive beyond 57 and 64 days during 2017 and 2018, respectively, indicating necessity of supplementary feeding during dearth periods. Sugar syrup was the most economical and effective carbohydrate source for feeding A. mellifera colonies followed by liquid glucose. Pollen supplement feeding along with carbohydrate syrups significantly improved survival and growth of A. mellifera colonies during dearth period. HFRS was comparatively less effective carbohydrate source when fed alone however; with pollen its performance improved significantly. Jaggery was the least preferred source and not at all recommended for dearth feeding, as it induced maximum mortality (27.0 to 27.7 dead bees/feeder/week), fermented faster and attracted intruders like wasps. Incidence of insect-pests, mites and diseases was lowered by proper hygiene, care and supplementary feeding during dearth periods. Inter and intra-specific robbing was characteristic feature during dearth period in A. mellifera colonies. Most of the honey quality parameters although remained within the prescribed limits but variations were recorded in HMF (3.33-26.16 mg/kg), moisture (15.87- 20.10 g/100g), F:G ratio (1.00-1.09), ash content (0.17-0.45 g/100g) and acidity (0.042-0.062 g/100g), while sucrose remained below LOQ, i.e. 0.5g/100g. Organoleptic scores revealed maximum acceptability of fresh honey (8.43-8.60) while honeys from HFRS fed colonies had the least acceptance (7.03-7.40). Seventy one different plant species belonging to 31 families were foraged by bees during dearth period. Protein content and calorific value in different pollen types ranged from 15.5-42.5% and 399.6-493.0 Kcal/100g, respectively.EnglishThesis