| Preliminary Results on Bee Longevity - HFCS vs. Sucrose |
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D. Sammataro, M. Weiss, J. Finley August, 2009 We found sucrose syrup to sustain greater longevity than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in worker honey bees during laboratory bioassays. The HFCS used in our trials had levels of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) well below levels previously described as toxic to honey bees. When HFCS was supplied to day-old worker honey bees maintained in cages, the mean lifespan was 16 days regardless of manufacturer, formulation (HFCS55 or HFCS42), or dilution; meanwhile, the mean lifespan for bees maintained on various dilutions of sucrose was 28 days, and for those maintained on a sucrose/fructose blend was 22 days. We performed field colony productivity trials in order to discern whether the laboratory results would be evident at the colony-level where there are overlapping generations present, and pheromonal regulation and trophallaxis are taking place. In a comparison of colony founding success between package bees installed in a closed foraging arena and supplied exclusively HFCS or sucrose, colonies provided with sucrose built significantly more honeycomb and trended towards greater food storage than those supplied with HFCS. When colonies were supplemented through the winter and spring at a remote field site with either HFCS or sucrose, there was a trend towards increased brood production from those colonies supplied with sucrose, thought the results were not significant. HFCS does not appear to have an acute toxic affect upon honey bees, and does sustain honey bee colonies when it is provided as an exclusive or supplemental carbohydrate source. Though sucrose syrup supports a significantly greater lifespan in laboratory bioassays, these results do not translate directly to the colony environment. Trials with a much larger sample size would need to be performed in order to determine whether the small productivity gains witnessed here by the use of sucrose translate into economically significant gains for the apiculture industry. |
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