Nutritional and prebiotic efficacy of the microalga Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) in honey bees

摘要: We evaluated the microalga Arthrospira platensis (commonly called spirulina), as a pollen substitute for honey bees. Nutritional analyses indicated that spirulina is rich in essential amino acids and wide variety of functional lipids (i.e., phospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols) common pollen. Feeding bioassays were used to compare dry fresh laboratory-grown with bee-collected commercial using sucrose syrup control. Diets fed ad libitum paste newly emerged bees cages (10–13 cage replicates) sampled at days 5 10 physiological molecular measurements. Spirulina diets produced biomarker profiles (thorax weight, head protein content, beneficial gut bacteria abundance) indicative elevated nutritional states, meeting or exceeding other some metrics despite reduced consumption. Furthermore, led significantly increased fat body lipid content mRNA levels central storage lipoprotein vitellogenin. conclude has significant potential prebiotic diet additive improve bee health.