Supplemental Feeding, 2018

> Beekeepers commonly supplement honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies’ nutrition with commercial pollen and nectar substitutes in an effort to encourage growth and reduce colony losses. However, there is a broad lack of understanding regarding the extent to which supplemental protein feeding affects honey bee colony health. We conducted a field study to determine if feeding protein substitutes affected colony strength and Nosema spp. spore intensity in commercially managed honey bee colonies. 

> The goal of our study was to determine if protein supplementation increased colony strength and/or Nosema intensity in commercially managed honey bee colonies. We did not observe any significant changes to colony strength or Nosema intensity based on protein supplementation. Furthermore, our discussion highlights that multiple field studies have failed to demonstrate a clear and consistent benefit of protein supplementation to colony productivity and strength.

Mortensen, A. N., Jack, C. J., Bustamante, T. A., Schmehl, D. R., & Ellis, J. D. (2018). Effects of Supplemental Pollen Feeding on Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Strength and Nosema spp. Infection. Journal of economic entomology.

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