Alimentação de Apis mellifera africanizadas: relação com a fisiologia, produção, sanidade e segurança alimentar

Abstract

Feeding bees Apis mellifera is considered one of the main bottlenecks of beekeeping, having effects on entire production chain. In this species feeding is crucial, not only is necessary to support the maintenance, reproduction and production, but also is responsible for caste differentiation. In contrast to its importance, few studies addressing the development of economically viable diets, easy to purchase and with proven results. Possibly, their development is contingent on available food regionally. Studies on the basic nutritional needs are quite old and made with European bees. The development of applied research addressing this subject with the focus on testing the efficiency of artificial diets is more recent, and still needs improvement, especially in regard to the assessment methodologies. The literature data are much less abundant and more inchoate than those referring to other domesticated species, like mammals and poultries. Aiming to test the effect of diets for Apis mellifera, an experiment in laboratory was carried, with newly emerged bees, kept in an incubator at 32° C, humidity 70-80%, for six days, where they received diet and water ad libidum. Seven experimental diets were tested, using to evaluate the following parameters, the total protein content in the hemolymph, the weight of the bees and the consumption of diets. Four diets showed significant differences in protein content of the hemolymph as compared to control group. One of which was also higher in the parameters weight and consumption. Based on this work, diets with better performance were tested under field conditions in three distinct regions of Santa Catarina state, were evaluated the brood area (drone, opened, closed and total), storage areas for food (honey and pollen), the percentage of Varroa destructor mite infestation, and the physical-chemical analysis of honey. In field experiments, we noted a wide variation in the data, even when considering the same treatment, suggesting that environmental variables might influence the results, and significant differences were demonstrated only in the areas of brood opened, brood total (Serrana region) and mite infestation (Oeste Catarinense and Serrana regions) compared to control. Diets did not alter the patterns of identity and quality of honey produced, and may be considered appropriate for supplemental feeding during times of scarce of pollen.