EFFECT OF STIMULATIVE DIETS FED TO HONEYBEES ON THE ACINAL SIZE OF HYPOPHARYNGEAL GLAND IN WORKER HONEYBEES (Apis mellifera) DURING SCARCE PERIOD IN WESTERN HIMALAYAS

This study was planned to examine the effect of stimulative diets fed to honey bees on the acinal size of hypopharyngeal gland in 8-days old worker honeybees (Apis mellifera). The hypopharyngeal glands are paired food glands located in the head of worker honey bees and queens but well developed only in workers. During the present study, colonies were fed with artificial diets during the dearth period. Artificial diet was fed to experimental colonies for three consecutive brood cycles. After two brood cycles frame sized wire cages were inserted on the sealed brood frame of selected control and experimental colonies. On the 8th day, after bee emergence marked bees were sampled from both experimental and control colonies. The hypopharyngeal glands were dissected to check the effect of artificial diets on HPG acini surface or diameter. The average HPG acini dimensions were measured to be 47181.17±3963.54 μm2 and 23659± 2048.01 μm2 in experimental and control colonies respectively. A significant difference was recorded when experimental and control colonies were compared with respect to the size of HPG acini.