EFFECT OF SUGAR SYRUP ON BEE HEALTH

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Apiary of Department of Entomology of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to find out effect of sugar syrup on bee health on August – October 2015. The experimental setting was with four treatments consisted of four different concentration of sugar syrup. Where T1 comprised of setting up of control where Sugar & water ratio=1: 1. T2 consisted of ratio of Sugar & water =1: 1.10. T3 having the ratio of Sugar & water = 1: 1.20 & T4 comprising the ratio of Sugar & water =1: 1.30. The study was replicated 6 times following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The highest percentage of eggs (22.25%) were deposited in the hives treated with the sugar syrup at 1:1.30 ratio. The highest percentage of larva (24.75%) was found in the colony treated with sugar syrup @ sugar: water = 1:1.30. and the lowest percentage of eggs & larvae were found in the control (T1=sugar: water = 1:1. They significantly differed from each other. The highest percentage of pupa (23.08%) was recorded in the sugar syrup consisted of sugar: water = 1:1.30 treated hives whereas the lowest percentage of pupa (7.95%) was observed in the control colony (T1=sugar: water = 1:1) hive. The lowest (0.21) mean mortality of bee was recorded in the hives treated with sugar syrup having 1:1.30 ratio compared to all other treatments including control. The highest mortality (2.96) was observed in sugar syrup with the ratio of 1:1.10 which might be due to toxicity of the environmental condition. Considering the above findings the Sugar syrup consisting of sugar: water = 1:1.30(T4) was the most effective diet on bee health.