The Text below is taken from
http://www.usab-tm.ro/vol10bMV/51_vol10b.pdf
The Intestine of adult bees has a pH of 5.6 – 6.3, and reserve feed they consume
(honey and bee bread) has a pH between 4.5 and 5. Pollen has the pH greater than 5.5.
According to previous experiments, bees tolerated best feed with pH ranged from 4.7 to 6.6.
Pasture used for the experiment was artificial, with pH decreased by fermentation to 4.94
and pollen with pH reduced by addition of citric acid and hydrochloric acid, to 4.66 (pH of
final mixture). Control group received a mixture of honey with pollen (pH 5.41). Bee families
were fed during February-March. The lot who received citric acid raised more juvenile than
the control group and other groups less juvenile, but the differences were not statistically significant.
According to the literature, the intestinal pH is 5.6-6.3 for adult bees and
6.8 for the larvae. It seems that the digestion is adapted to acid feed, which is preferred to the neutral or alkaline. Food pH above 7 leads to imbalances and promote digestive diseases.
In bees feed, the administration of pollen substituent of different pH levels
was experienced. Groups that were given food with a pH of 4.7, 5.5 and 6.6 had the maximum consumption and efficiency translated by area occupied by juveniles on comb. Lots that received substitutes with pH 4.1 and 8 had the lowest efficiency and the lowest consumption.
It turned out that bees prefer acidic foods and honey and bee bread has
the pH below 5, fresh or frozen pollen has pH greater than 5.
