Concentration of Some Major and Trace Elements in Honeybees, Royal Jelly and Pollens, Determined By Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Atomic absorption techniques were used to determine K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in samples of pollens from corn (Zea mays), Citrus, longleaf and loblolly pines (Pinus taeda, P. palustris) and of mixed bee-collected pollens. On the basis of these analyses a salt mixture for inclusion in diets for adult honeybees is suggested. The same elements were determined in adult worker honeybees, and separately in heads, thoraces and abdomens, and in royal jelly. The K/Na ratio for the whole bodies of adult bees and for royal jelly varied from about 5 to 8, and the Mg/Ca ratio varied from 2 to 4. Mn was present in unusually large quantities in adult bees, with a range from 102 to 270 ppm. The major elements in each body region were K, Na and Mg, with the greatest concentration in the head. Mn, Ca, Cu and Zn occurred in larger amounts than expected in the abdominal region. The cations K, Na, Cu, Fe and Mn were concentrated from pollen by adult bees. Ca was present in bees in much lower concentration than in pollen. Royal jelly contains only trace amounts of Mn.