Effect of artificial sugar supplement on the lifespan and learning memory ability of honey bee (Apis cerana) worker bee offspring

Abstract Honeybees maintain their growth and reproduction mainly by collecting nutrients from nectar-source plants. Apis cerana, a unique species of honeybee in China, is capable of sporadically collecting nectar. In traditional beekeeping, sugar syrup or a honey-water solution must be artificially fed to bees to supplement their diet during rainy weather or nectar-deficient periods. In this study, 2 groups of honeybee colonies were each fed sugar syrup or a honey-water solution, and a third group consisting of colonies that were allowed to naturally forage without any dietary supplement was used as the control. The effects of the 2 sugar sources on A. cerana worker bee offspring were compared. The results showed that the sugar source affected the lifespan and learning memory of the worker bee offspring. The lifespan, learning memory ability, and expression of related genes in the sugar syrup group were significantly lower than those in the honey-water solution and natural nectar foraging groups (P < 0.05). A honey-water solution supplement was more beneficial to the healthy development of worker bee offspring than a sugar syrup supplement when the colonies lacked dietary resources. These findings provide a theoretical basis that can guide beekeepers in choosing the appropriate dietary supplements for honeybees.