HONEY-BEE QUEEN MANDIBULAR PHEROMONE DOES NOT INCREASE RATE OF SUGAR SYRUP AND POLLEN SUPPLEMENT UPTAKE

We examined whether the addition of synthetic queen mandibular gland pheromone (QMP) to sugar syrup or pollen supplement would increase food uptake by honey bee colonies. The addition of 10 queen equivalents of QMP to 5 L. of syrup, or 1 kg. of pollen supplement, had no significant effect on uptake rates.