Probiotic Supplementation Boosted Bee Survival in Cold
· Tarım Pusulası
Research by Zabol University revealed that probiotic and inulin supplements added to sugar syrup significantly reduced cold-induced losses in bees during the overwintering period.
Thermal Stress and Feeding in Bees
A scientific study conducted at Zabol University in Iran has determined that proper nutrition and feeding practices play a critical role in honeybees' fight against cold-induced thermal stress. Honeybees expend significant energy to maintain an in-hive temperature of 34-36°C when ambient temperatures drop, rapidly losing their ability to fly. Researchers fed bee colonies, divided into five groups in the laboratory, with sugar syrup supplemented with probiotics and prebiotic inulin derived from chicory root for 21 days.
High Survival Rate in Cold Temperatures
Following the feeding trials, honeybees were placed in different test environments at temperatures of +4°C, +15°C, +35°C, and +40°C. Data obtained by Zabol University researchers showed that over 80% of bees in the group receiving the highest dose of probiotic and inulin supplementation survived under 15°C ambient conditions. In an extreme cold environment representing 4°C, it was recorded that over 70% of the bees survived. The data obtained highlighted the importance of supplemented feeding during the overwintering period.
Oxidative Stress and Temperature Limits
According to the results of the research published in the journal PLOS One, the supplements were found to support the bees' defense mechanisms by alleviating oxidative stress and cellular molecular damage within the bee's body. Conversely, the applied feeding strategy had a very limited effect against high-temperature stress. Under extreme heat test conditions, the increase in bee lifespan was limited to only 3 days, and researchers advised that producers should rely on the bees' natural in-hive ventilation mechanisms during heatwaves.