Growth and Decline of Honeybee Colonies and Inter-Relationships of Adult Bees, Brood, Honey and Pollen

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mean adult bee populations were 18,000 in late May, 37,000 in early June and 13,000 in late Sept., mean brood populations were 15,000 in late May, 24,000 in mid-June and almost non-existent in late Sept. Honey stores increased with nectar flows and decreased at other times, leaving about 16 kg at the end of the season for overwintering. About 30 kg of pollen was necessary for brood and adult requirements throughout the season. Pollen in store reached a maximum of 2 kg at maximum brood rearing and declined to about 0.75 kg for overwintering. Adult bees and brood, and adult bees and honey stored, were only related (P < 0.05) in the 1st half of the season; adult bees, pollen stored and pollen trapped, were not significantly related, neither were brood, pollen stored, pollen trapped nor honey stored, although patterns of pollen storing, pollen trapping and brood rearing were similar.