WO2010146405A2

WO2010146405A2 - Preventive composition for treatment of disease of honey-bees caused by ccd

Info

Publication number: WO2010146405A2
Application number: PCT/HU2010/000067
Authority: WO
Inventors: Péter FENDRIK
Original assignee: Fendrik Peter
Priority date: 2009-06-16
Filing date: 2010-06-15
Publication date: 2010-12-23
Also published as: HUP0900364A2; WO2010146405A3; HU0900364D0

Abstract

A composition for feeding honeybees in a treatment procedure to prevent their falling ill in CCD traceable in the presence of different pathogens with the effect of continuously maintaining the operation of their immune system characterized by being kneaded of a beebread artificially produced through anaerobic fermentation by lactobacilli of pollen and/or a mixture of pollens gathered from insect pollinated plants and carried into hives by bees then mixed into drinking water and sterilized by a food industrial procedure also destroying spores of Penibacillus larvae subspecies with an addition of beet sugar powder and further drinking water, if any, to have a consistency of hard bread dough within which the artificially produced beebread is in a series whose value is between previously given ranges in a proportion of 20 to 80 % by mass and the drinking water in a proportion of 4 to 20 % by mass, and each pollen has protein content which is in itself at least 15 % by mass on dry matter basis. The fodder composition also has an expressly anti-nosema effect and a composition of increased effect can also be produced for this purpose.

Description

Preventive Composition for Treatment of Disease of Honey-bees Caused by CCD

The subject of our invention is a composition for feeding honeybees in a treatment procedure to prevent their falling ill in CCD traceable in the presence of different pathogens with an effect of continuously maintaining the operation of their immune system.

In recent years honeybee populations living in the wild have practically disappeared in several points of the world and on apiaries a new disease of bees appeared involving mass die off of bees.

Besides the agricultural significance of honey bees — manifested in producing honey, beeswax, propolis and royal jelly— their outstanding ecological significance derives, especially in moderate climates, from pollinating flowers of wild and cultivated plants.

In apiaries usually occur and are described various bee diseases caused by and associable with the presence of pathogens. In the apiaries parasitic pathogen mites, viruses, fungi, bacteria and protozoa live on the bees. Beekeepers' usual activities include applying treatments against them, inhibiting their proliferation to protect the bees preventing thereby the emergence of diseases or curing diseases once emerged.

Agents used in the protective treatments against pathogens always have their effects on the pathogens either directly in the hive or indirectly through the organism of the host by feeding or watering the bees. Subject to the agent of the compositions, harmful side- effects on the bees and apicultural products as well as the development of resistance by pathogens can be avoided by applying treatments in properly chosen periods and durations.

In apiaries all over the world the pathogen parasite mite Varroa destructor is widely traceable and spread. The disease, varroosis, caused by the mite harms individual bees as early as in the brood phase.

In recent years beekeepers have experienced an increased death rate per annum in a traceable presence of the mites in spite of treatments with only part of the deaths occurring in the formerly accustomed period. A significant part of losses, can be noticed, unlike the accustomed period, late summer or early autumn when the population of up to then healthy looking colonies decreases and wintering becomes hopeless. The losses between different areas show significant variations.

Researches show that the CCD illness traceable in the presence of Varroa destructor mites and involving mass die off of bees does not develop in every colony that is infested by Varroa destructor mites.

To several insect species belong a nosema species specific to it. The parasite nosema is a cryptogam protozoa.

In earlier years the species named Nosema apis Zander was traced in apiaries and the symptoms of the disease nosemosis caused by it was described. The disease caused by Nosema apis Zander can usually be noticed late winter, early spring when the weak, flightless bees showing diarrhoeal symptoms gather in groups staying in front of the hive and crawl about. If the queen, too, contracts the disease she becomes unable to lay eggs and the colony dies out. A colony suffering from the chronic type of the disease scarcely develops and without other symptoms gradually grows weak.

Nosema ceranae first isolated in 1996 in Asian bees has been widely traced in apiaries and it was proved that following the mass die off of bees of 2005 in Taiwan and Spain its presence was traceable during the CCD disease of honeybees widespread all over the world and involving further mass die off of bees in spite of anti-nosema treatments. In comparison with the disease caused by Noserma apis Zander, it is characteristic of the course of the disease involving mass die off of bees and occurring in the presence of Nosema ceranae that the latter disease may occur, without diarrhoeal symptoms, any time during the season even in late summer or in the autumn. Without any previous symptom foraging bees have such a grave problem of orientation that they cannot return to the hive and die. In a few days only the queen and a handful of bees remain in the hive, the foraging bees disappear. In a given case even medium infestation of the bees may lead to large-scale die off of bees, the collapse of the colony.

Researches at the same time show that the CCD illness traceable in the presence of Nosema ceranae and involving mass die off of bees does not develop in every colony that is infested by Nosema ceranae. A fungus named Ascophaera apis is the pathogen of the infectious bee disease chalkbrood. Fungus spores getting into the organism of larvae through their mouth develop on brood, living or dead for other reasons, and on dead bees. When carrying corpses out of the hive bees infect both themselves and the brood they feed. The mass die off of bees occurring late summer and in the autumn leads to the decrease of the number of wintering bees and the collapse of the colony.

Researches at the same time show that the CCD illness traceable in the presence of Ascophaera apis and involving mass die off of bees does not develop in every colony that is infested by Ascophaera apis.

Since traceing in apiaries the first insect virus, denoted by the abbreviation SBV for sackbrood virus, more then 14 more kinds of pathogenic viruses living on bees have been isolated. Although scientific knowledge is incomplete as to their pathological aspects and as to how widely they are spread research experiences show that the viruses occur widely. In the presence of virus infestations, too, diseases showing characteristic clinical symptoms occur in certain colonies. At the same time research results show that a significant part of pathogenic viruses that make bees diseased — in Hungary e.g. acute bee paralysis virus denoted by ABPV, black queen cell virus denoted by BQCV, Y bee virus denoted by YBV and deformed wing virus denoted by DWV — is present in a large number of colonies as inapparent infestation without producing symptoms. In other colonies in a disease showing symptoms of suddenly appearing viral infestation CCD involving mass die off of bees ensues leading to the collapse and extinction of the colony. In such cases the presence of proliferated viruses can be traced on the dead bees. It can be stated that colony collapse disorder involving mass die off of bees — generally denoted by the initial_^word CCD, an abbreviation of the English denomination of colony collapse disorder — is a syndrome traceable in the presence of various pathogens. The disease cannot definitely be connected to one given pathogen. When examining dead bees in a significant part of affected colonies Nosema and/or Varroa destructor infestation was also traced besides the presence of proliferated viruses. When examining Varroa destructor mites found on the dead bees it was established that the mites themselves can be infested by e.g. Israeli acute paralysis virus generally denoted by the initial-word IAPV as their own parasite because the IAPV virus is also able to multiply within the mite so the mites play a role in spreading the virus. At the same time research results prove that individual pathogens detectably present when CCD occurs are present severally and jointly at a comparatively high level of infestation in such colonies, too, where CCD does not develop or no disease at all is noticeable. Research results also prove that the disease CCD, appearing recently, appears in some colonies in spite of continuously lowering levels of mite and/or nosema and/or virus infestations — as a result of treatments against these pathogens — in comparison with an earlier period preceding the first appearance of the disease.

From the patent specification HU 222 525 we can learn about a treatment making its effect indirectly through the organism of bees against the fungus Ascophaera apis — a parasite of bees, developing on the brood and causing the disease chalkbrood — as well as a composition applicable in the course of the treatment. The composition contains 1 gram vegetal tannin as agent in an aqueous solution containing ethanol which is fed to the bees 5 times every other day mixed into sugar syrup during the treatment procedure. After the treatment the chalkbrood ceases. The bees carry the dead bodies out of the hives the beekeepers may help the bees by cleaning the hives. According to the specification, if the chalkbrood appears again, the colonies after the treatment are already able to cope with the reinfection.

The treatment described exclusively covers prevention of a mass die out of bees resulting from chalkbrood already developed and gives no direction for preventing the CCD colony collapse ensuing in the presence of other pathogens.

From the patent specification HU 206 600 we can learn about a treatment making its effect indirectly through the organism of bees against parasites of useful insects and brood insects including honeybees kept by man and compositions applicable in the course of treatment. According to the specification as a combined treatment against more than one parasite treatments known earlier acting indirectly against the mite Varroa jacobsoni can also be included in the treatment against the parasitic protozoon Nosema apis of the Microsporidia subgroup. The composition against Nosema apis contains a substituted 1,2,4-triazindion derivative or its salt formed with a base as active component, hi the compositions a quantity of 0.1 to 25 % by mass of the active component is mixed with solid carriers accepted in veterinary medicinal products and/or with liquid thinners and in a given case with surfactants. The specification describes the applicability of a dough-like fodder containing as composition, in addition to a suitable quantity of the active component, sugar and starch in a treatment producing indirectly a systematic effect through the haemolymph of the bees as well as well as the applicability in sugared drinking water of a solution showing alkaline reaction intermixing with water and containing the active component in a polar solvent. Active components against other parasites can also be mixed into these compositions. In case of bees for a combined treatment against e.g. Nosema and the mite Varroa jacobsoni the compositions may contain mixed into them as further active components synthetic phosphoric acid ester, thus coumaphos, malathion, formamidin, thus chlordimeform, phenotiazine, thus promazine, synthetic pyrethroid, thus flumetrine, ciflutrine, cihalotrine or amithraz or cimiazol. Despite the fact that in principle the composition could be applicable in any phase of development of the insects according to the specification in the case honeybees it is applicable during the winter feeding or in a broodless period. The treatment can be ended by removing the composition. It is proved that the cytolysis of protozoa as a result of applying the compositions in a treatment is confirmed.

The treatment described expediently affects exclusively the parasites named, and from them, it simultaneously hinders the proliferation of those already present. In order to avoid disadvantageous side effects on bees and apicultural products its applicability is limited in time and dose. As regards its essence, it is not preventive, gives no guidance on how to maintain the resistance of bees and with the suspension of treatment the given disease may within a short time flare up again.

Treatments known as per state of the art are all directed against one of the pathogens facultative from the point of view of the disease CCD. Among the known treatments we have found such treatments that serve for curing diseases traceable in the presence of independent pathogens of honeybees and which though treat the bees' organism but are aimed at avoiding extensive spread of the given disease caused by the given pathogen within the colony by exclusively affecting one of the given pathogens present on the spot of the disease already emerged or by inhibiting further proliferation of the pathogen or at providing protection of shorter or longer duration against and affecting exclusively one given pathogen. Accordingly the treatments against known individual pathogens did not prove according to experiences suitable by themselves and are certainly not suitable for preventing the syndrome of CCD disease emerging in the presence of other pathogens or in the presence of more than one pathogen. The known treatments against individual pathogens are applicable in limited durations and doses their usual and ineffective overdosage involves dangers they have side-effects harmful for bees and the consumers of honey they may cause environmental damage in the fauna and flora the effects of synergies resulting from their simultaneous application are unclear they are not fully efficient even in respect of the given pathogen either in time or in space. At the present state of the art no such treatment procedure is known which — simultaneously with the application of treatments specifically affecting individual pathogens from the facultative pathogens — would prevent the emergence of the CCD syndrome of honeybees and no such treatment procedure is known either which applied besides the treatments specifically affecting pathogens would complete them and would impede the emergence of the CCD syndrome disease in respect of every pathogen i.e. would ensure the sustainability of the colony.

The aim of our invention is to supply this want. Accordingly we set as our target the elaboration of such a new treatment procedure affecting not some of the pathogens facultative from the point of view of the CCD but having its effect on the honeybees. Namely, we have realized that by continuously maintaining the operation of their immune system even in the presence of pathogens is suitable for preventing the CCD syndrome disease. Our realization is based on the fact that CCD does not develop in each of the colonies infested with pathogen shows that it emerges when the immune system of the bees operates at a reduced, unsatisfactory level. Furthermore we have also realized that by feeding the host bees on a fodder of optimum composition and full value their immune system can be continuously kept on the appropriate level and by completing the known and usually applied treatments against the individual pathogens with such a treatment the disease involving mass die out of bees can be avoided in spite of the presence of pathogens in the colonies.

Accordingly our invention relates to the applicability of a new composition keeping the operation of the immune system of bees on a continuous level in a new treatment procedure serving to prevent the CCD disease traceable in the presence of pathogens in honeybee colonies.

For the development, multiplication and healthy subsistence of honeybees living in colonies, including the proper operation of their immune system, satisfactory nutriment intake is absolutely necessary. The foraging bees regularly leaving the hive of a healthy honeybee colony are able under proper environmental conditions, i.e. suitably good weather and bee pastures, to gather the feeding stuffs important for the colony: water, nectar and pollen in necessary amounts and to carry them into the hive. The feeding stuffs gathered in have to contain amino acids, like proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, like fats, vitamins, macro- and microelements in suitable proportions and quantities. The division of labour existing in the colony enables further processing of the feeding stuffs gathered in and thus the proper feeding of every individual in the healthy colony all the time. Part of the feeding stuffs carried into the hives and utilizable for the bees as nutriment and the bee foods produced of them by the bees: pollen, nectar, propolis, honey, etc. beekeepers take from the hives in the course of their agricultural activities. Characteristics of the materials currently gathered in by the foraging bees are jointly determined by the nutriment contents stored up in the hive, the requirements of the colony and the properties of bee pastures. Taking this into consideration the readiness of bees to gather in pollen for feeding stuff in a given case closely corresponds to the nectar yield of pastures.

In cases of bad weather and/or crowded, poor or quality-wise unsatisfactory pastures the nutritive value of the feeding stuff gathered in cannot be suitable for properly supplying the needs of the colony. Namely under such conditions the pollen gathered in in correspondence with the nectar yields does not contain proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, macro- and microelements in necessary satisfactory amounts. As beekeepers need sturdy, healthy colonies they also place drinking water and fodder into the hive ensuring nutrition for the development, sustenance and multiplication of the individual bees of the colony. Feeding and watering takes place as substitution for the nutriments taken away by the beekeepers first of all substitutions of carbohydrate to substitute for the stored up honey reserves taken away and, all things considered, as a means to achieve one of their purposes of animal farming: in the interest of increasing honey yield. And again, all things considered, protein substitutions for encouraging brooding take place in the usual periods as part of farming in the interest of increasing the honey yield.

From the patent specification HU 151386 we can learn about a composition offered as nutriment of full value for feeding bees which as regards its chemical composition resembles natural flower honey. The specification describes a composition mainly containing invert sugar, made of a liquid gained from pressing the vegetal parts of the stem of sweet sorghum — otherwise toxic to bees, however, after the late seeds free of glucosides have already ripened — and evaporated to syrup thickness under vacuum at a temperature not surpassing 50° C. According to the specification feeding bees with this composition in winter is more favourable for their health than beet sugar because beside its not saccharose but mainly invert sugar carbohydrate contents it also contains proteins and other natural vegetal nutriments to which the bees are already accustomed. At the same preparing the composition requires great circumspection because stems must be most carefully separated from the shoots on it as the rest of the plant contains a glucoside named dhurrin, toxic to bees. A pronounced advantage of the composition is its cheapness — being a side-utilization of the industrial plant sweet sorghum utilized for cellulose production and having no effect on the main utilization — on account of the high sugar contents of the plant sweet sorghum its production is economic. Disadvantages of the composition are that the bees do not always accept the product given to them during winter feeding as substitution for the honey taken away and that beekeepers refrain from applying it on account of the rules forbidding invert sugar content as a characteristic of adulteration as regards honey.

From the patent specification USP 4,386,107 we can learn about a food composition of paste form which is a pollen substitute for use in apiculture and recommended for use with successful rearing of honeybees in view. According to the specification the food stocks of a hive become depleted at the end of the winter season, for climatic reasons and every time when the colony rears as many larvae as possible under the circumstances. On such occasions artificial fodder products — serving exclusively for the substitution of protein — usually placed by beekeepers into the hive are not consumed by the bees in satisfactory quantities because the composition of these artificial fodder products does not correspond to the composition of natural pollen. From the patent specification we can learn about such a fodder composition, substituting pollen and having the consistency of paste, which is elaborated for this purpose and can be given throughout the year and which contains the ingredients of pollen in a proportion practically identical with that of natural pollen, i.e. proteins, amino acids, vitamins in the forms of the components lactic yeasts, vegetable proteins and whole-egg powder as animal protein. The product may also contain other additives among them sugar, water and 5 to 10 % by mass of natural pollen, too, as appetizer e.g. Chinese anise inflorescence powder. Vegetal protein contents may be proteins produced from e.g. potato, soy, corn of from other plants. The bee fodders described contain various natural materials of vegetal and animal origins artificially imitating, according to humans' efforts, the ingredients of pollen and their proportions however they are by no means identical with the pollen feeding stuff collected and preferred by bees as it is of good quality for them. In general they have a single dominant source of protein which, even if it contains amino acids that can be considered favourable for bees, cannot be considered optimum. These compositions can in addition be burdened on account of their contents of vegetal parts with insecticide and pesticide residues and genetic engineering for insect control which may have further unfavourable effects on the operation of the immune system of bees and on the apicultural products. Non-pollen ingredients serving as the base of known fodders are not attractive for bees which cannot be perfectly disguised by a pollen additive if any either therefore these compositions are consumed reluctantly without pleasure, full and certain consumption of the doses placed at the bees' disposal cannot be reckoned with. The biological effect of known substitute fodders on bees is also different. Examination results confirm that no effect can be achieved by using them against e.g. Nosema.

Known feeding procedures applying known fodders, including fodders containing as seasoning some pollen, aim at supplying the want of carbohydrate or brood-encouraging protein nutriments resulting from honey having been taken away, more or less even achieve it, and do not correct the deficiencies in quality and quantity of the pollen gathered in by the bees.

The aim of our invention is to supply these wants. We set as our target the elaboration of such a composition suitable for feeding which is surely and first of all attractive to bees as a pollen based ready-made meal so with the consumption of its doses placed at the bees' disposal can be reckoned and, as regards its contents, it corrects the deficiencies in quality and quantity of the pollen gathered in.

Namely by applying such a composition in a treatment having its effect on the bees the operation of the bees' immune system can be brought on the appropriate level resisting the appearing pathogens and, considering that in spite applying the usual treatments against pathogens the CCD disease involving the mass die out of bees only emerges in such colonies where the individuals are not resistant on account of the sudden deterioration of the operation of their immune system, the development of the CCD disease can be avoided by keeping the immune system up, and prevention can be realized.

In recent decades owing to changed environmental conditions the changed and deteriorated quality of plants flowering in certain periods on bee pastures in the foraging areas of bees have resulted in deficiencies of such an extent which lead through malnutrition to deficiency disease and unsatisfactory operation of the immune system. This is why we have set as our target to realize such a new feeding procedure which is aimed at correcting deficiencies of quality and quantity of the pollen gathered in by honeybees.

It is known that bees preserve and store fresh pollen taken in by them on their hind legs by ramming it into cells with their head then covering it with honey. In the meantime the bees inoculate with their saliva the pollen preserving it this way through lactic acid fermentation producing thereby the beebread serving as nutriment.

Our invention stems from the recognition that with a beebread artificially made of good quality, genuine pollen instead of perishable, low quality pollen such a preserved fodder can be brought into being which can immediately be utilized for every member of the colony and is a digestible, appetizing ready-made meal which contains in a controlled way — in a form surely accepted — every nutriment necessary for keeping up the immune system of the bees. It is also realized that the bees' procedure of preservation is artificially industrially imitable and can at the same time be completed with depathogenization. As the sudden deterioration of the bees' immune system caused by the deficiencies in quality and quantity of the pollen gathered in can be avoided by a proper feeding procedure including the dosage of suitable and at the same time depathogenized fodder — through such a continuously kept up operation of the immune system — a preventive treatment procedure preventing the development of the CCD disease can be realized and the bees become able to resist pathogens appearing and present.

Accordingly our invention is a composition for feeding honeybees in a preventive treatment procedure against CCD disease traceable in the presence of various pathogens and involving mass die off of bees with the effect of continuously maintaining the operation of their immune system. The composition is a beebread artificially produced through anaerobic fermentation by lactobacilli of pollen and/or a mixture of pollens mixed into drinking water and sterilized by a food industrial procedure destroying Penibacillus larvae subspecies larvae spores with an addition of beet sugar powder and possibly further drinking water kneaded together to have a consistence of hard bread dough- The composition contains the artificial beebread in a series whose value is between previously given ranges in a proportion of 20 to 80 % by mass and the drinking water in a proportion of 4 to 20 % by mass. The beebread is artificially produced of such pollens collected by bees from insect pollinated plants and carried into the hive and each pollen has a protein content which is in itself at least 15 % by mass on dry matter basis.

The composition contains as binder the beet sugar powder which acts at the same time by inhibiting microbial putrefaction as preservative of the composition and is a carbohydrate fodder nutriment usually given to bees. It enables the formation of a hard bread-dough like consistency which prevents, even in case of humidity absorption in the hive, the bees from getting stuck or drowned in the fodder. The composition is suitable — in the form of an advantageously pie-shaped fodder of given mass and size — for a dosed feeding of the colony.

Researches have shown that protein rich pollens — i.e. those containing at least 15 % by mass of protein on a dry matter basis — also contain every other nutriment component useful for the bees in suitable concentration and quantity. In given pollen rich periods, in cases of good quality bee pastures the beekeepers, as part of their farming activities, usually take out such pollen from the beehive. Such are e.g. in Hungary the pollens gathered by the bees from the flowers of willow, various fruit-bearing plants, rape, poppy, dandelion, phacelia, linden, sundry floriferous plants of forests and meadows, mustard, solidago and carried into the hive. The pollen may contain various pathogens dangerous for the bees. Food-industrial sterilization which may take place either before or after fermentation must destroy the pathogens, among them even the sporular form of Paenibacillus larvae subspecies larvae — a pathogen causing the disease American foulbrood — which may possibly be found in the pollen and is the most resistant among the pathogens. In the course of preventive treatment procedure before the development of the disease CCD, feeding is prescribed with the combination as per our invention in determined periods of the apicultural year corresponding to the state of development of the colony. In order to lay the foundations of the next apicultural year correction is to be effected in the summer season, in a period of relative scarcity in pollen, to maintain the level of the immune system of the colony on its peak of development. Namely at such times pollen supplies are low compared to the high population of the colony and the bees complete their nutrition by consuming large quantities by volume, corresponding to their number, of the food composition, as per our invention, containing in a proportion of 20 to 30 % by mass of beebread placed into the hive at their disposal as prescribed. In order to prepare for wintering, correction is to be effected in autumn in a period of absolute scarcity in pollen to maintain the immune system of the colony. Namely at such times — during the replenishment of reserves and the largest possible brood — bee pastures cease to exist in the vicinity for the colony of already decreased population. At such times the bees complete their nutrition by consuming the food composition, as per our invention, containing in a proportion of 30 to 60 % by mass of beebread placed into the hive at their disposal as prescribed. There is no need for correction in the winter season as with the brood being inactive the protein and mineral reserves are appropriate for maintaining the immune system.

For maintaining the immune system of the colony correction is to be effected before the gathering in of pollen starts in early spring in a period of absolute scarcity of pollen on account of bad weather. At such times the colony of low population completes its nutrition by consuming the food composition, as per our invention, containing in a proportion of 50 to 60 % by mass of beebread placed into the hive at its disposal as prescribed. Correction is also necessary for maintaining the immune system on account of a relative scarcity of pollen after the gathering in of pollen has started in the spring in the intervals between flights on account of bad weather. At such times the colony completes its nutrition by consuming the food composition, as per our invention, containing in a proportion of 20 % by mass of beebread placed into the hive at its disposal as prescribed. In other periods — exclusively in case of propagation or queen rearing — feeding the progeny and the queen rearing colony with the composition, as per our invention, containing in a proportion of 20 to 30 % by mass and in a proportion of 50 to 60 % by mass of beebread respectively is nrescribeά. reeαing in toe treatment procedure becomes usetui and ettective it we provide toe nive witn dπnKing water simultaneously witn toe todder enabling toe bees to also teed in periods of inhibited flight. In the treatment procedure the composition as per our invention and the water are given to the bees in a watering-feeding tray which can be placed into the hive and to whose contents the members of the colony of capable age may have unhindered access without leaving the hive. In the treatment described feeding with the composition as per our invention has a continuous effect of maintaining the operation of the immune system of honeybees whereby prevention of the CCD disease — traceable in the colony in the presence of various pathogens and involving the mass die out of bees — is realized.

Advantageously the pollen mixture contains at least two kinds of pollen and the protein content of the mixture is at least 20 % by mass on a dry matter basis. Advantageously the pollen mixture contains pollen originating from at least two seasons. Advantageously for the anaerobic fermentation the pollen or mixture of pollens is of pollen kept fresh by keeping earlier in a deep frozen state under -18 ⁰C. In the composition in an ensemble of more than one different pollens their compositions add up whereby the favourable effect gets stronger and the variations in quantity showing in the composition of the individual pollens get, to all probability, balanced. A mixture of pollens originating from of spring, summer and autumn more than one season is especially advantageous. As pollen is perishable but its valuable contents can be preserved by freezing advantageously for our composition a pollen or a mixture of pollens gathered in by the bees taken out by the beekeeper while fresh and deep frozen right-away then continuously stored without deterioration of quality even when originating from several seasons can be fermented. It, too, is an advantageous solution when the composition is kneaded of previously frozen bccbrcad and added drinking water with beet sugar cowder. Pollens alwavs contain some lactobacilli with which fermentation can be executed. So that this operation is well controlled and digestion ensured apart from the pollen or pollens mixed into the drinkine water for the anaerobic fermentation executed bv lactobacilli advantaecouslv there also is a iactobaeillus culture added and mixed in before me iermeniaπo!..

The bccbrcad included in the comoosition can be sterilized with usual food-industrial orocedures. with ethviene oxide or eamma radiation, A radiation dose of iO kϋv is advantageous. The beebread will also be sterilized if the pollen and/or mixture of pollens is sterilized. In this case the lactobacilli originally existing in the pollen and/or mixture of pollens are destroyed. In such an advantageous solution after its sterilization with gamma ray the pollen and/or mixture of pollens is inoculated with the lactobacillus culture added and mixed into it before the fermentation.

The pollen consumed by the bee has an effect on the structure of the perithropic membrane in its mid-gut on account of the fibre content of the pollen. The membrane thickened with a protective layer constitutes a mechanical obstacle for the nosema in its connection with intestinal epithelial cells. Thus our product in itself also strengthens resistance specifically against nosema. Our product is advantageously kneaded — with the addition of drinking water and beet sugar powder as well as with the addition of a fungus of the Saccharomyces species extracted from the added pollen — to the consistency of hard bread dough. The efficiency of the fungus against nosema is proved by examinations. As the fungus is extracted from pollen and otherwise, too, occurs in hives it may get into our product to correct the deficiencies of the pollen gathered in and as an agent to strengthen the specific effect against nosema.

Below we shall describe a few solutions serving as examples of execution of the composition as per our invention.

Solidago pollen in the range of 17 to 21 % by mass gathered by the bees and carried into the hive and having a protein content of 19 % by mass on dry matter basis is sterilized with a gamma radiation dose of 10 kGy then mixed with 20 % by mass of drinking water and 1 % by mass of lactobacillus culture added and mixed in then fermented through anaerobic fermentation for two weeks at 20 ⁰C. The composition of hard bread dough consistency is kneaded of the beebread of 35 % by mass thus artificially produced and sterilized with the addition of beet sugar powder of 65 % by mass then formed into pie- shaped doses.

The protein content of the pollen mixture comprising 10 % by mass of dandelion, 40 % by mass of rape and 50 % by mass of phacelia pollens gathered by bees and carried into the hive deep frozen in its fresh state and stored at -20 ⁰C is in its entirety within the 26 to 30 % by mass range on a dry matter basis. The pollen mixture is mixed into 10 % by mass of drinking water then fermented under anaerobic conditions for two days at 34 ⁰C then for two weeks at 22 °C then, after the fermentation, is sterilized with a dose of 10 kGy gamma radiation then deep frozen to -20 ⁰C and stored. After thawing the 20 % by mass of beebread thus artificially produced is kneaded with the addition of further 6 % by mass of drinking water and 74 % by mass of beet sugar powder to be the composition of hard bread dough consistency of which pie-shaped doses are formed.

The mixture made up of 50 % by mass of rape, 10 % by mass of mixed forest, 10 % by mass of mustard, 25 % by mass of solidago and 5 % by mass of willow pollens gathered in two different seasons and carried into the hive by the bees then deep frozen in its fresh state and stored at -20 ⁰C is sterilized with a dose of 10 kGy gamma radiation. The protein content of the mixture is in its entirety within the 25 to 29 % by mass range on a dry matter basis. The sterilized pollens are mixed with 12 % by mass of drinking water and 1 % by mass of lactobacillus culture added and mixed in then fermented under anaerobic conditions for two days at 34 °C then for two weeks at 20 °C. Of the 40 % by mass of beebread thus artificially produced is kneaded with the addition of 59 % by mass of beet sugar powder and 1 % by mass of broth culture of Zygosaccharomyces cf. mellis fungus extracted from pollen the composition of hard bread dough consistency of which pie- shaped doses are formed.

The compositions as per our invention are advantageously applicable for feeding honeybees in a treatment procedure to prevent their falling ill in CCD traceable in the presence of different pathogens and involving the mass die out of bees with the effect of continuously maintaining the operation of their immune system. It is an unexpected advantage that as ready-made nutriments they at the same time ensure — besides making up for the work of weakened individuals, if any, and being preferred as a result of their optimum composition of natural components to any food in the hive — pathogen-free nutriment for every member of the colony and being thereby applicable not only in treatment procedures aimed at prevention but also in those against diseases caused by certain pathogens. It is a further advantage of the fodder that it also has an expressly anti- nosema effect and a composition of increased effect can also be produced for this purpose.

Claims

Claims:

1./ A composition for feeding honeybees in a treatment procedure to prevent their falling ill in CCD traceable in the presence of different pathogens with the effect of continuously maintaining the operation of their immune system characterized by being kneaded of a beebread artificially produced through anaerobic fermentation by lactobacilli of pollen and/or a mixture of pollens gathered from insect pollinated plants and carried into hives by bees then mixed into drinking water and sterilized by a food industrial procedure also destroying spores of Penibacillus larvae subspecies with an addition of beet sugar powder and further drinking water, if any, to have a consistency of hard bread dough within which the artificially produced beebread is in a series whose value is between previously given ranges in a proportion of 20 to 80 % by mass and the drinking water in a proportion of 4 to 20 % by mass, and each pollen has protein content which is in itself at least 15 % by mass on dry matter basis.

2.1 The composition as per claim 1. characterized by the mixture of pollens containing at least two kinds of pollens and the mixture has a protein content which is in its entirety at least 20 % by mass on dry matter basis.

3./ The composition as per either of claims 1.-2. characterized by the mixture of pollens containing pollens originating from at least two seasons.

A. I The composition as per any of claims 1.-3. characterized by the pollen and/or the mixture of pollens and/or the artificially produced beebread having been kept fresh for the anaerobic fermentation in its earlier deep frozen state under -18 °C.

5./ The composition as per any of claims 1.-4. characterized by the food industrial sterilization being gamma radiation.

6.1 The composition as per any of claims 1.-5. characterized by the beebread being sterilized before the fermentation by the sterilization of the pollen and/or the mixture of pollens.

7./ The composition as per any of claims 1.-6. characterized by the drinking water also containing a lactobacillus culture, added to and mixed into it, in addition to the pollen and/or the mixture of pollens for the anaerobic fermentation by lactobacilli.

8./ The composition as per any of claims 1.-7. characterized by being kneaded of the beebread with the addition of the drinking water and the beet sugar powder as well as with an addition of a fungus of Saccharomyces species extracted from added pollen to the consistency of hard bread dough.

9.1 The composition as per any of claims 1.-8. characterized by its form of dosed fodder being a pie shape of given size and given mass that can be placed into the food tray in the hive.