Abstract :
Commercially available pollen substitute diets for honey bees (Apis mellifera) were evaluated for brood rearing activity, it was carried at the apiary of Gemmiza Agic. Res. Station, Gharbia Governorate, as well as Menofia Governorate, Egypt. Two trials were conducted, the first period from December2014 to Feb2015 and the second period from Aug. to Dec. 2015. The pollen substitute were four diets, Diet 1(Feed bee), Diet 2 (Soya bean flour +brewer s yeast + (agwa) + sugar +water), Diet 3 (Soya bean flour +brewer s yeast +Skimmed powder milk + sugar +water) and Diet 4 (brewer s yeast + (Agwa) + defatted Soyabean flour+ skimmed powder milk, + sugar +water). The results showed that there was a significant differences between all pollen substitutes on brood rearing, at the first period at Gharbia Governorate (December – Feb.2014/2015). The period of (Feb23) was the highest period on brood rearing activity. Also there was a significant differences among all diets on brood rearing activity, where the pollen substitute Diet 1 was the highest effect .The second period of Gharbia Governorate (Aug.21 – Decem.19 - 2015), the period of (Dec.19) was the highest period on brood rearing activity, and the pollen substitute (Diet 1) was the highest effect. Also there was a significant differences among all period and control colonies of brood rearing area at the first period of Menofia Governorate. The period of (Feb23.) was the highest effect, also there was a significant differences among all diets on brood rearing activity, where the pollen substitute (Diet 1) was the highest effect .The results apparent that there was a significant differences among all period and control colonies of brood rearing area at the second period of Menofia Governorate ( Aug.21 –Dec.07 - 2015) . The period of (Dec.07) was the highest period on brood rearing activity. Also there was a significant differences among all diets on brood rearing activity, where the pollen substitute (Diet 1) was the highest effect. It could be concluded that all diets can be used as pollen substitute during two dearth period of flowering plants to build up brood areas of colonies before main nectar flow and before divided colonies.
