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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Baton Rouge, Louisiana » Honey Bee Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388316
Research Project: Using Genetics to Improve the Breeding and Health of Honey Bees

Location: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research

Title: Effects of different artificial diets on commercial honey bee colony performance, health biomarkers, and gut microbiota

Author
item Ricigliano, Vincent
item Williams, Steven
item OLIVER, RANDY - Scientific Beekeeping

Submitted to: BMC Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/4/2022
Publication Date: 1/21/2022
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7638036
Citation: Ricigliano, V.A., Williams, S.T., Oliver, R. 2022. Effects of different artificial diets on commercial honey bee colony performance, health biomarkers, and gut microbiota. BMC Veterinary Research. 18(52):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03151-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03151-5

Interpretive Summary: Honey bee colonies used for agricultural pollination are highly dependent on human inputs, especially for disease control and supplemental nutrition. Colonies are routinely fed artificial “pollen substitute” diets to compensate for insufficient pollen forage in the environment. In this study, we tested the effects of different commercial and beekeeper-formulated diets in a northern California, U.S. beekeeping operation. A total of 144 honey bee colonies were fed over a 5 month period leading up to almond pollination services in early spring. Replicated across three apiary sites, two pollen-containing diets produced the largest colonies and the heaviest bees per colony. Two completely artificial diets that did not contain pollen led to significantly larger colonies than a sugar negative control diet. Colony size and bee weight were correlated with dietary essential amino acid deficiencies relative to leucine content. Nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota, and pathogen levels were influenced by apiary site, which overrode some diet effects. Our findings highlight the importance of measuring multiple colony and individual bee factors to test the effectiveness of a diet, as honey bee nutritional responses are complex to evaluate. Optimization of artificial bee diets has the potential to increase beekeeper compensation and pollination efficiency by supporting larger, healthier colonies.

Technical Abstract: Background: Honey bee colonies used for agricultural pollination are highly dependent on human inputs, especially for supplemental nutrition. Colonies are routinely fed artificial “pollen substitute” diets to compensate for insufficient pollen forage in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different artificial diets in a northern California, USA beekeeping operation from August until February when colonies are used for almond pollination. A total of 144 honey bee colonies were divided into feeding groups that were replicated at three apiary sites. Feeding groups consisted of commercial diets, a beekeeper-formulated diet, or a sugar negative control. Diets were analyzed for macronutrient and amino acid content. Feeding regimes were evaluated with respect to honey bee colony population size, average bee weight, nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota abundance and pathogen levels. Results: Replicated at three apiary sites, two pollen-containing diets produced the largest colonies and the heaviest bees per colony (P < 0.05). Two completely artificial diets that did not contain pollen led to significantly larger colonies than a sugar negative control diet (P < 0.05). Diet macronutrient content was not correlated with colony size or health biomarkers (P > 0.05). Diet essential amino acid deficiencies relative to leucine content were significantly correlated with average bee weight in November and colony size sent to almond pollination in February (P < 0.05). Nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota, and pathogen levels were influenced by apiary site, which overrode some diet effects (P < 0.05). Regarding microbiota, diet had a significant effect on the abundance of certain taxa (P < 0.05) and trended towards effects on other prominent bee gut taxa. Conclusions: Multiple colony and individual bee measures are necessary to test the effectiveness of artificial diets since honey bee nutritional responses are complex to evaluate. Balancing diet essential amino acid content relative to leucine may improve colony growth via increased protein synthesis and leucine utilization. Optimization of artificial diets has the potential to reduce feed costs and improve pollination efficiency by supporting larger, healthier honey bee colonies.