Dietary supplementation with a molybdenum-based complex is associated with higher emergence weight in Apis mellifera queens under field conditions

Cochard, Précillia and Poirot, Benjamin and Mignot, Adrien and Haehnel, Bastien and Azemar, Robin and Floquet, Sébastien (2026) Dietary supplementation with a molybdenum-based complex is associated with higher emergence weight in Apis mellifera queens under field conditions. APIS, 3 (1). pp. 5-15. ISSN 3058-0382

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Abstract

The quality of the queen is a key factor in the performance of honeybee colonies. Yet the role of trace-element supplementation in queen rearing remains insufficiently documented. This study investigated whether dietary supple-mentation with the molybdenum-based complex abbreviated Na-Mo₂O₄-EDTA affected queen-rearing traits in Apis mellifera under field conditions. Experiments were conducted in spring 2024 in two apiaries in western France. Supplemented colonies received sugar syrup containing Na-Mo₂O₄-EDTA, whereas control colonies received the same syrup without supplementation. Queen emergence weight was assessed at both sites, and additional queen-rearing traits were measured at one site.Three replicates were conducted at both sites, although one replicate at site 1 was excluded because of high mortality. After accounting for colony identity, site, and week effects using mixed-effects models, dietary supplementation with Na-Mo₂O₄-EDTA was significantly associated with increased queen emergence weight. In contrast, no consistent treatment effect was detected for queen cell length, royal jelly production, or morphometric traits. These results provide preliminary evidence that molybdenum supplementation may influence queen developmental outcomes under field conditions and support further investigation of trace-element supplementation in honey bee queen rearing.

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