Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Painkra KL, Shaw SS, Painkra GP and Bhagat PK

Abstract:
Major problem in beekeeping is to maintain good strength of honeybee colonies during prolonged dearth periods in our country. This problem is also faced by beekeepers of northern hilly region of Chhattisgarh. In subtropical part of Chhattisgarh, summers are very harsh for honey bees as enough bee flora are not available during this period. In the present study, an attempt has been made to test the acceptability of artificial diets as food supplement fed to bee, Apis cerana indica (Fab.) colonies during dearth periods on colony parameters like sealed brood and unsealed brood. The mean sealed and unsealed brood area of bee colonies during all four months of observation revealed that out of 10 diets, the artificial diet in D₇ (Parched Gram Flour 50% + Fresh pollen from flowers 20% + Glucose 20% + Sugar 10%) recorded the maximum sealed brood area of 663.43 cm² whereas the minimum sealed brood area of 258.35 cm² in control (without added any artificial diet). Similarly, maximum unsealed brood area was recorded in D₇ as 846.43 cm² and minimum was recorded in control with 338.27 cm² during the study period.