Field study shows spring & summer feeding helps colonies overcome nutritional stress from pollen dearths and intensive pollination.
Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B – Biological Sciences.
Trials in collaboration with and supervised by Washington State University, Department of Entomology.
Colonies were tracked through commercial blueberry and sunflower pollination – two challenging crops – with holding yards in between.
Colony survival and development was tracked until winter.
TRIAL:
Investigate if APIX Pollen’s pollen-like nutrition aids colonies in spring & summer when going through blueberry & sunflower pollination.
NO. OF COLONIES:
16 colonies per treatment group, four treatment groups: fed APIX Pollen, fed a leading commercially used pollen sub, and unfed.
INVESTIGATORS:
APIX Biosciences & Washington State University
COLONY MANAGEMENT:
Managed by a commercial beekeeper according to their best practices, supervised by WSU.
FIELD DATA:
Data collected by Washington State University
FEEDING REGIME:
Feed starting in May (new colonies established) until September (start of fall).
APIX Pollen fed colonies grew on average to 2x the size of unfed colonies and 1.6x the control pollen sub colonies
Colonies fed APIX Pollen consistently recovered brood production in holding yards after blueberry pollination, while other colonies did not.
A commercial beekeeper that pollinates broccoli, cauliflower, white & red cabbage inside greenhouses for seed production used APIX Pollen to nourish his colonies through the pollination.
TRIAL:
Independent trial with professional beekeeper that pollinates broccoli, cauliflower, white & red cabbage (seed production in greenhouses)
CHALLENGE:
over 3-4 weeks of seed pollination in greenhouses, colonies significantly weaken and require fixing afterwards due to lack of nutrition.
NO. OF COLONIES:
4 greenhouses, 5 colonies per 10 000 m2 , total of 20 colonies per treatment group,
COLONY MANAGEMENT: Colonies fully managed , fed, and measured by commercial beekeeper.
FEEDING REGIME:
Feed half the colonies with APIX Pollen from January to April (before entering greenhouse) and upon exit from greenhouse. The other half did not receive any protein supplement (standard practice)
A new tool for beekeepers to nourish colony strength and bee health through pollination in greenhouses, where nutrition is scarce. APIX Pollen fed colonies:
Honey bees face many situations with pollen shortages in today’s modern beekeeping. APIX Pollen is a flexible nutritional tool that supports your colonies for short and long periods of dearth.
Protect your colonies and significantly lower mortality rates during periods of nutritional stress.
Build bigger, more robust colonies that are up to twice the size of unfed colonies.
Help your colonies bounce back quickly after stressful pollination by restoring brood production.
Prevent colony decline during greenhouse pollination, maintaining bee population and brood size.
Join our priority list to be among the first to secure APIX Pollen for your bees. Be the first to get contacted for exclusive updates, access to launch data, and ensure your place at the front of the line for the next revolution in bee nutrition.
