The effect of pollen supplementary feeding on some activities of honeybee colonies during summer season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Supplementary feeding with pollen patty is very necessary for honeybee colonies during summer season (May-September) under Riyadh area conditions.

Pollen supplementary feeding increased the population density and brood rearing activity of the tested colonies during the pollen dearth period.

Moreover, it also encouraged the activities of honeybee colonies up to the late summer.

The colonies which were provided with pollen supplementary feeding, presented the maximum activities related to population density, brood rearing, and pollen storage, in indigenous bee colonies (Apis mollifiers yemenitica) followed by Carniola bee colonies (Apis mellifera carnica) and Italian bee colonies (Apis mellifera ligustica) respectively.

Where as in storing honey activity the carniolan bee colonies (Apis mellifera carnica) surpassed the indeginous bee (Apis mellifera yemenitica) and Italian bee colonies (Apis mellifera ligustica).