Honey bees produce honeycombs exclusively from wax synthesised by the wax glands of worker bees. The intensity of secretory activity in wax gland cells should be considered in close relation to the development of structural elements of the fat body, represented by trophocytes and enocytes. It is known that wax secretion processes depend to a large extent on the functional state of the fat body. The main factor ensuring lipogenesis in the fat body of bees is the consumption of pollen – the primary source of amino acids and lipids. Protein deficiency inhibits the functional activity of the wax glands, whereas a balanced amino acid diet increases the secretory activity and the bees’ capacity for comb building. This article presents the results of studies on the effect of protein intake and specific amino acids in the diet on the intensity of wax secretion in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of protein and amino acid nutrition on the morphometric parameters of the fat body cells and wax glands of bees. The study was conducted between 2023 and 2025 on three groups of bee colonies, each comprising five colonies, formed using the analogue method. The bees in the control group were not given any protein-rich feed. Bees in experimental group I were fed with candy feed made from a mixture of sugar syrup, honey, soya meal, dried egg melange and pollen. Bee colonies in experimental group II consumed a similar feed, to which an amino acid complex was additionally added. This complex comprised the following synthetic amino acids: arginine – 50,0 mg, lysine – 45,0 mg, methionine – 15 mg, leucine – 75,0 mg and isoleucine – 45,0 mg per 1 kg of protein paste. Morphological analysis of the fat body and wax glands was performed on 7-micrometre-thick transverse sections of the fourth abdominal segment, prepared following fixation in Buena’s fixative and staining with methylene blue. Compared with the control group, the length of the trophocytes in the bees of experimental group I increased by 17,2 %, and their width by 15,1 %. Feeding the amino acid complex to bees in experimental group II resulted in even more intense cell growth: the linear dimensions of trophocytes increased by 23,1 % in length and by 28,6 % in width (p<0,001). The use of protein feeds had no signifi cant eff ect on the mor phometric parameters of enocytes. Compared with the control, the length of these cells in bees from the experimental groups increased by 7,8–8,9 %. Cells of the wax-secreting epithelium were characterised by an increase in length: by 15,9 % in experimental group I and by 21,7 % in group II (p><0,001). Thus, the use of protein-rich diets promotes mod erate hypertrophy of enocytes and a marked increase in the size of trophocytes, while the addition of an amino acid complex further stimulates the develop ment of the wax-secreting epithelium, which is con sistent with an increase in wax-producing capacity. Keywords: honey bees, fat body, wax gland, feeding level, protein intake, diet composition, nu trients, amino acids, wax production rate.> <0,001). The use of protein feeds had no significant effect on the morphometric parameters of enocytes. Compared with the control, the length of these cells in bees from the experimental groups increased by 7,8–8,9 %. Cells of the wax-secreting epithelium were characterised by an increase in length: by 15,9 % in experimental group I and by 21,7 % in group II (p<0,001). Thus, the use of protein-rich diets promotes mod erate hypertrophy of enocytes and a marked increase in the size of trophocytes, while the addition of an amino acid complex further stimulates the develop ment of the wax-secreting epithelium, which is con sistent with an increase in wax-producing capacity. Keywords: honey bees, fat body, wax gland, feeding level, protein intake, diet composition, nu trients, amino acids, wax production rate.> <0,001). Thus, the use of protein-rich diets promotes moderate hypertrophy of enocytes and a marked increase in the size of trophocytes, while the addition of an amino acid complex further stimulates the development of the wax-secreting epithelium, which is consistent with an increase in wax-producing capacity.

Keywords: honey bees, fat body, wax gland, feeding level, protein intake, diet composition, nutrients, amino acids, wax production rate.