Effects of pollen collection on colony development and in the bromatological composition Apis mellifera L. pupae

Resumen

Africanized bees (Apis mellifera L.) were studied in the Botucatu region (São Paulo State), Brazil, from August to November, 1996, with the objective of quantifying pollen trapping and its effects on colony development and composition of worker bee pupae. Mean trapped pollen yield was 1.47 kg/beehive. Trapping had little effect on brood production, causing only a 9.7% reduction in total worker brood area and a 4.0% reduction in drone brood area, as compared to the treatment without pollen types. Pollen harvest did not affect the bromatological composition of worker pupae (white bodies and slightly pigmented eyes), mean values obtained for both treatments being 18.87% dry matter, 48.07% crude protein, 18.52% ether extract and 3.72% ash.