Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees
Honey bees transform nectar into honey through a combination of physical and chemical processes, with the physical process primarily involving the evaporation of excess water to concentrate the nectar. However, the factors affecting evaporation efficiency, such as evaporation duration, cell type, an...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| author | Shunhua Yang Qingxin Meng Tao Ye Jianming Wang Wenzheng Zhao Yakai Tian Kun Dong |
| author_facet | Shunhua Yang Qingxin Meng Tao Ye Jianming Wang Wenzheng Zhao Yakai Tian Kun Dong |
| author_sort | Shunhua Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Honey bees transform nectar into honey through a combination of physical and chemical processes, with the physical process primarily involving the evaporation of excess water to concentrate the nectar. However, the factors affecting evaporation efficiency, such as evaporation duration, cell type, and bee species, remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to examine how these factors affect nectar evaporation efficiency during honey production. We measured the sucrose content in solutions subjected to combined active and passive evaporation, as well as passive evaporation alone. The results showed that eastern honey bee (EHB; <i>Apis cerana</i>) colonies were more efficient at concentrating sucrose solutions in worker cells than in drone cells under both combined active and passive evaporation conditions, as well as passive evaporation alone. Conversely, western honey bee (WHB; <i>Apis mellifera</i>) colonies exhibited greater efficiency in drone cells. Additionally, EHB colonies were more effective than WHB colonies in converting sucrose into fructose and glucose. Under passive evaporation, EHB colonies required at least 48 h to significantly concentrate the sucrose solution, while WHB colonies achieved similar concentrations in just 24 h. Sucrose content increased with the duration of passive evaporation. These findings provide insights into how honey bee colonies can efficiently produce mature honey during periods of abundant nectar flow. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2a21cee279a34903a4d9a1eb45ef079e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-2a21cee279a34903a4d9a1eb45ef079e2025-01-24T13:35:47ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-01-011617110.3390/insects16010071Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey BeesShunhua Yang0Qingxin Meng1Tao Ye2Jianming Wang3Wenzheng Zhao4Yakai Tian5Kun Dong6Yunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaYunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaYunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaYunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaYunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaYunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaYunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honeybee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, ChinaHoney bees transform nectar into honey through a combination of physical and chemical processes, with the physical process primarily involving the evaporation of excess water to concentrate the nectar. However, the factors affecting evaporation efficiency, such as evaporation duration, cell type, and bee species, remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to examine how these factors affect nectar evaporation efficiency during honey production. We measured the sucrose content in solutions subjected to combined active and passive evaporation, as well as passive evaporation alone. The results showed that eastern honey bee (EHB; <i>Apis cerana</i>) colonies were more efficient at concentrating sucrose solutions in worker cells than in drone cells under both combined active and passive evaporation conditions, as well as passive evaporation alone. Conversely, western honey bee (WHB; <i>Apis mellifera</i>) colonies exhibited greater efficiency in drone cells. Additionally, EHB colonies were more effective than WHB colonies in converting sucrose into fructose and glucose. Under passive evaporation, EHB colonies required at least 48 h to significantly concentrate the sucrose solution, while WHB colonies achieved similar concentrations in just 24 h. Sucrose content increased with the duration of passive evaporation. These findings provide insights into how honey bee colonies can efficiently produce mature honey during periods of abundant nectar flow.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/71<i>Apis cerana</i><i>Apis mellifera</i>comb cellnectar evaporationenzymatic activity |
| spellingShingle | Shunhua Yang Qingxin Meng Tao Ye Jianming Wang Wenzheng Zhao Yakai Tian Kun Dong Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees Insects <i>Apis cerana</i> <i>Apis mellifera</i> comb cell nectar evaporation enzymatic activity |
| title | Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees |
| title_full | Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees |
| title_short | Impact of Comb Cell Diameter on Nectar Evaporation Efficiency in Honey Bees |
| title_sort | impact of comb cell diameter on nectar evaporation efficiency in honey bees |
| topic | <i>Apis cerana</i> <i>Apis mellifera</i> comb cell nectar evaporation enzymatic activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/71 |
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