Journal of Entomology1812-56701812-5689Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/je.2013.120.135Apis mellifera L.]]>SihagRam C. GuptaManisha 32013103To help the honeybee colonies to tide over harsh summer dearth period in South-Western region of Haryana (India), the efficacy of four pollen substitute diets viz. diet-1 (Soybean flour+yeast extract+honey), diet-2 (diet-1+NaCl salt), diet-3 (diet-1+salt+vitamins and minerals) and diet-4 (diet-1+vitamins and minerals) was tested on the reproduction and build up of colonies of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). The diet-1 could induce reproduction and build up in the treated colonies. But, the diet-2 proved counterproductive as all the attributes of the colonies receiving the latter diet declined markedly. The diet-3 could marginally increase the values of colony attributes. However, these values remained significantly lower than those achieved under diet-1. The diet-4 proved to be the best among the four artificial pollen substitute diets. The colonies receiving the latter diet showed maximal unsealed brood area, sealed brood area, bee strength and pollen and honey stores. All the control colonies had extremely low values of these parameters, could not survive the summer dearth period and vanished by late October. The colonies receiving diet-4 could give maximal economic returns followed by, in descending order, those receiving diet-1, diet-2 and diet-3. The control colonies receiving no artificial diet died during the dearth period thus causing a complete loss of the invested capital amount. The diet-4, therefore, seems to make a sufficient pollen substitute feed for sustaining reproduction and brood rearing in honeybee (A. mellifera) colonies during dearth period.]]>Adbellatif, M.A., F.H. El-Gaisar and N.M. Mohanna,19711111415Al-Tikrity, W.S., A.W. Benton, R.C. Hillman and W.W. Clarke,197211912Baker, R.J., 1971102326Barker, R.J.,197710718591862Barker, R.J. and Y. Lehner,1976116322332Burgett, D.M., G.C. Fisher, D.F. Mayer and C.A. Johansen,19841984Chalmers, W.T.,1980548995Chhuneja, P.K., H.S. Brar and N.P. Goyal,1992Apis mellifera L. colonies 1. Preparation and consumption.]]>544857Chhuneja, P.K., H.S. Brar and N.P. Goyal,1993Apis mellifera L. colonies 2. Effect on colony development.]]>551725Chhuneja, P.K., H.S. Brar and N.P. Goyal,1993Apis mellifera L. colonies 3. Effect on honey storage, pollen load and wax production.]]>552630De Grandii-Hoffman, G., G. Wardell, F.A. Segura, T. Rinderer, R. Danka and J. Pettis,200847265270De Jong, D., E.J. da Silva, P.G. Kevan and J.L. Atkinson,2009483437Dodologlu, A., C. Dulger and F. Genc,2004Apis mellifera L.) housed in wooden or polystyrene hives and fed bee cake or syrup.]]>4338Doull, K.M.,19751151415Doull, K.M.,19751158889Free, J.B.,1993Free, J.B. and I.H. William,1971108790Hagedorn, H.H. and F.E. Moeller,196878995Haydak, M.H.,197015143156Herbert, Jr. E.W.,1978172731Herbert, Jr. E.W.,20002000pp: 197-233pp: 197-233Herbert, Jr. E.W. and H. Shimanuki,197716150153Herbert, Jr. E.W. and H. Shimanuki,1979119833836Herbert, Jr. E.W. and H. Shimanuki,1980120349350Herbert, Jr. E.W. and H. Shimanuki,198314119125Johansson, T.S.K. and M.P. Johansson,197758105115Jordan, R.,1961Volker tragen Pollenein.]]>82305306Kleinschmidt, G.J. and A.C. Kondos,197879251257Kulencervic, J.M., W.C. Rothebuhler and T. Rinderer,1982122181189Kumar, J., S. Srivastava and N.P. Kashyap,1995Apis mellifera colonies.]]>57174176Maurizio, A.,19462148Nabors, R.,2000Apis mellifera L.]]>140322323Piskovoi, F.R., V.A. Shibidko and K.K. Borisov,1964H11315Saffari, A., P.J. Kevan and J. Atkinson,2010541320Saffari, A., P.J. Kevan and J. Atkinson,2010546371Schmidt, J.O. and A. Hanna,200619521532Sihag, R.C.,198625121126Sihag, R.C., 1990Apis mellifera) colonies in Haryana.]]>525156Sihag, R.C.,1990Apis mellifera L.) in semi-arid sub-tropical climates. 1. Melliferous flora and over-seasoning of the colonies.]]>53143Sihag, R.C.,1991Apis mellifera L.) in semi-arid sub-tropical climates. 2. Seasonal incidence of diseases, pests, predators and enemies.]]>61626Sihag, R.C.,20018115141516Sihag, R.C. and M. Gupta,2011Apis mellifera L.) over the dearth season.]]>551529Singh, S.,1962pp: 214pp: 214Snedecor, G.W. and W.G. Cochran,19896th Edn.,Standifier, L.N., M.H. Haydak , J.P. Mills and M.D. Levin,19731139495Standifier, L.N., F.E. Moeller, N.M. Kauffeld, E.W.J. Herbert Jr. and H. Shimanuki,19781978Taber, S.,1978118408411Taber, S. and H.K. Poole,19741141819Temnov, V.A.,19581958pp: 657662Townsend, G.F. and M.V. Smith,19691091415Van der Steen, J.,200746114119Waller, G.D., M.H. Haydak and M.D. Levin,1970110302304Wyndham, R.J.,19731973Zaytoon, A.A., M. Matsuka and M. Saaki,198823481487