EFFECT OF VARIOUS SPROUTED PULSES AS POLLEN SUBSTITUTES TO MANAGE INDIAN BEE, APIS CERANA INDICA (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)

Sprouted pulses as pollen substitutes were evaluated to develop an efficient and cheap protein supplement to manage Indian honeybee (Apis cerana indica) during build up period, to enhance the colony strength and honey production. Bees were provided with six different sprouted pulses as pollen substitutes viz., black gram, green gram, chickpea, soya bean, horse gram and red gram to determine their impact on desirable attributes of colony parameters. Results indicated that per cent acceptability of horse gram was more as compared to other sprouts. A gradual increase in hive parameters was observed which was maximum in horse gram due to it’s multi-nutritional property and minimum in green gram due to it’s anti-nutritional factors. However, all the diets were found significantly superior over control. Data on cost and shelf life of these diets as patties are also furnished and discussed.