Effect of different levels of vitamin C on queen laying rate and body protein percentage of worker in honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.)

Role of vitamins in bee nutrition is very important especially in case of supplemental feeding with sugar and pollen substitutes. In this experiment effects of different levels of vitamin C on the rate of queen lying and workers body protein were studied. Experimental colonies had the same age queens and the same population (5 frames). This study was held at April and July 2011 in three levels of vitamin C (2000، 4000 and 6000 ppm) with sugar syrup (50%) while the control group fed syrup without vitamin C for 45 days. Results of statistical analysis showed that between treatments in terms of queen lying was significantly different (P<0. 05). The highest laying rate observed in treatment with 2000 ppm vitamin C and the lowest observed in control group with 9049، 4848cm2، respectively. Also، average percent of workers body protein fed by different levels of vitamin C showed that treatments are significantly different (P<0. 05). The highest percent of protein was in treatment with 2000 ppm (57. 45 percent) while the lowest was in treatment 4000 ppm (47. 50 percent). According to our results adding of vitamin C (2000 ppm) to syrup، could increase rate of queen lying and the workers body protein.