The effect of different pastes containing Zarnam corn syrup on performance indicators, colony population, and feed intake in honey bee

In this experiment, corn syrup was mixed with different feedstuffs and was evaluated in comparison to commercial sucrose fondant paste. Experimental treatments included a commercial fondant sucrose paste, Zarnam corn syrup paste, enriched Zarnam corn syrup paste (treatment 2 plus 0.5% vitamin and mineral supplement), Zarnam corn syrup vegetable paste, vegetable paste enriched with Zarnam corn syrup (Treatment 4 plus 0.5% vitamin and mineral supplement), and sucrose paste. Results showed that the commercial paste treatment had the highest population, and the enriched Zarnam syrup paste treatment had the lowest population (P<0.05). The larval population in all treatments containing Zarnam corn syrup, except the enriched Zarnam corn syrup paste, was similar to the commercial paste  (P<0.05). The highest pupal population was belonged to  commercial paste treatment, which was significantly higher than enriched Zarnam corn syrup paste and sucrose paste (P<0.05). The egg-laying rate of the queen in Zarnam enriched corn syrup plant paste, and sucrose paste treatments was statistically similar to commercial paste, while it was lower in other Zarnam corn syrup treatments (P<0.05). The lowest amount of pollen storage was related to the Zarnam syrup paste treatment, which was significantly lower than other treatments (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between other treatments. Based on the results of this research it can be concluded that it is possible to prepare an enriched herbal paste by combining Zarnam corn syrup with plant materials, mineral and vitamin supplements, with the same effects on production performance of bees as commercial fondant sucrose paste.