INTESTINAL MICROFLORA OF HONEY BEES AFTER OVERWINTERING
The gastrointestinal tract of honey bees that feed on carbohydrate feed all winter should normally contain microorganisms that contribute to the breakdown of feed nutrients into components assimilated by the bee body. The microflora of the middle and posterior intestines differs in composition, since the main absorption of nutrients occurs in the middle part of the intestines of bees, and the accumulation of feces in the posterior part. After inoculation and incubation of the contents of the bee intestines on a nutrient medium, two types of colonies of microorganisms were identified that radically differed in cultural properties. Enterobacteria with high enzymatic activity that decompose sugars to acid and gas are permanent inhabitants of the digestive tract of bees, have formed numerous smooth colonies of medium size with smooth edges and gray-white color. The microscopic picture of the stained preparations showed randomly located, heterogeneous gram-negative rods in the field of view. Lactobacilli are antagonists of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacteria; they manifest themselves on the nutrient medium in colonies of small size with smooth edges, rounded shape, predominantly white. In the preparations, the microorganisms are represented by chains of straight rods which have neat rounded ends. The bacteria have a thick cell wall which is confirmed by Gram staining where they are gram-positive; the presence of spores in the field of view was not detected. The intestinal microflora of honey bees after wintering is mainly represented by enterobacteria that are involved in the digestive processes and in small amount by lactobacilli that perform mainly a protective function in the intestines.