The Effect of Prebiotic and Probiotic Feed Supplementation on the Wax Glands of Worker Bees (Apis Mellifera)

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of acidifying substances (lactic acid or acetic acid), Enterobiotics products (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-14 and Bifidobacterium lactis BI-04) and Enterolactis Plus (Lactobacillus casei) on the wax glands of worker bees. The research was conducted in Timis County, Romania, between March 25 and April 20, 2011, on 110 colonies of bees (Apis mellifera carpatica), allocated to 11 experimental treatment groups. Colonies in the experimental groups were given three weekly feeds of sugar syrup supplemented with acidifying substances (lactic acid or cider vinegar) and/or probiotic products (Enterobiotics or Enterolactis Plus). Three weeks after the administration of the experimental diets, 10 worker bees from each treatment group were sampled for histological examination of their wax glands. Gland development was shown to be influenced by administration of prebiotic and/or probiotic supplements. Wax gland cell sizes ranged from 25.1 microns for the control group to between 27.8 and 31.8 microns in the group fed with acidifying substances and between 26.9 and 29.2 microns in bees fed with probiotic products. Bees supplemented with both lactic acid and probiotic product (group LE₉ and LE₁₀) showed mean wax cell sizes of 31.8 microns.