Molecular Entomology, 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 1-10 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/me 5 2022). Additionally, the quality of the brood, as indicated by parameters such as queen emergence weight and spermathecae diameter, was improved with supplemental feeding (Cengiz et al., 2019). These improvements in brood health and survival are essential for sustaining robust and productive colonies. 4.3 Colony productivity and honey yield Optimized feeding has a profound impact on colony productivity and honey yield. Studies have shown that colonies receiving supplemental diets, particularly those rich in protein and essential nutrients, produced significantly more honey compared to control groups (Ahmad et al., 2021; Vijayakumari et al., 2022). The increased availability of nutrients supports higher foraging activity and better overall colony health, leading to enhanced honey production. This is particularly important during periods of pollen dearth, where natural forage is limited. 4.4 Resilience to environmental stressors The resilience of honey bee colonies to environmental stressors is greatly influenced by their nutritional status. Colonies that received supplemental feeding exhibited better resilience to stressors such as malnutrition and oxidative stress. For instance, bees fed with a combination of sugar syrup and protein supplements showed improved antioxidant enzyme activities, which help mitigate the effects of environmental stress (Tawfik et al., 2020). Additionally, the presence of essential fatty acids and amino acids in the diet was linked to better stress protein (HSP 70) responses, further enhancing the bees’ ability to cope with adverse conditions (Sarioğlu-Bozkurt et al., 2022). These findings highlight the critical role of optimized feeding in enhancing the resilience and overall health of honey bee colonies. 5 Case Study: Impact of High-Protein Diet on Colony Health and Productivity 5.1 Study design and methodology The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a high-protein diet on the health and productivity of honey bee colonies. Various protein supplements were tested, including commercially available protein feeds and natural pollen sources. The experimental setup involved multiple colonies divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment groups received different protein supplements, while the control groups were either unsupplemented or provided with sugar syrup. Key parameters measured included colony growth, brood rearing, adult bee population, and overall colony health indicators such as pathogen load and stress protein levels (Figure 2) (Ahmad et al., 2021; Hoover et al., 2022; Kim et al., 2024). Figure 2 Schematic overview of experiment design (Adopted from Kim et al., 2024) Image caption: (A) Field experiment: Fifteen colonies were used for field experiments. (B) Cage experiment: Twelve cages were used for cage experiments. The diets were provided during the timeframe indicated by the empty egg-shaped circles (Adopted from Kim et al., 2024)
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