Determination of Efficacy of Pollen Containing Soya Flour and Milk Powder in Bumblebee, Bombus terrestris L.

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Experiment was conducted to determine the effects of pollen containing soya flour and milk powder in Bombus terrestris. Five diets were tested using both standard rearing and micro colony methods: normal pollen, 2x pollen + 1x soya flour, 2x pollen + 1x milk powder, 1x pollen + 1x soya flour, and 1x pollen + 1x milk powder. Results showed that addition of soya flour and milk powder to pollen had a negative effect on colony foundation success of queens and colony development. In the standard rearing method, differences were found among the groups in terms of egg laying ratio and mortality ratio in first month. Many queens which fed with diet containing milk powder died and increasing of ratio of milk powder raised the mortality ratio. According to data obtained from micro colonies, normal pollen which more efficacy than diets containing soya flour and milk powder is the best food for B. terrestris.

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Nutrition , Bombus terrestris , pollen , soya flour , milk powder

Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University

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Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University