AMINO-ACID AND LIPID SPECTRA OF LARVAE OF HONEY-BEE (APIS-CERANA FABR) FEEDING ON MUSTARD POLLEN

Amino acid and lipid compositions of the larvae of honeybees (Apis cer ana) confined to (i) caged foraging on mustard (Brassica campestris L cv Toria) pollen only (CM), (ii) uncaged foraging in open abundantly f lowering mustard plants (UCM), and (iii) caged foraging in non mustard plants (CNM), are reported. Both the content and quality of the amino acids and lipids of the larvae were affected by the type of pollen nu trition of the bees. The CM larvae appeared to contain greater amounts of total amino acids and lipids compared to the UCM and CNM larvae. P roline was the amino acid present in the greatest amount. Triglyceride s and phospholipids form the major lipid classes of the larvae irrespe ctive of the type of pollen nutrition of the bees, the former being pr esent in the greatest amount. The concentrations of all the biochemica l constituents, the brood area and the larval weight varied in the ord er CM > UCM > CNM. The concentration of protein amino acids in the CM was about twice as high as that in the CNM, but free amino acids varie d in the order CNM > CM > UCM. As such, mustard is a superior pollen s ource of bee nutrition.