Honeybees Create Specialized 'Baby Food' for Balanced Larvae Diet

The Discovery of Honeybee 'Baby Food'

Honeybees blend a special 'baby food' to give their larvae a balanced diet, with adult bees also able to regulate their feeding to avoid overconsuming certain nutrients, according to a study.

Nutritional Challenges in Pollen

Nectar from flowers provides mainly sugar, while pollen is a bee's main source of protein. However, pollen is the male reproductive material of plants and does not always provide the balance of nutrients that bees need to thrive.

Research Findings

Researchers compared the essential amino acid profiles of honeybee tissues with that of pollen from 99 species of British flowering plant. They found that most pollen sources tested were a poor match for the essential amino acid profile of bee tissues.

Impact on Bee Nutrition

Bees that were fed diets that more closely matched their own tissue composition ate more, gained more body mass and consumed a more protein-rich balance of food. The researchers also discovered that honeybees appear to have developed a strategy to ensure their developing young obtain a balanced diet.

Honeybee 'Baby Food' Production

Honeybees collect pollen from many different flowers and store it in the hive as 'bee bread'. It is eaten by nurse bees, which then convert nutrients from pollen into glandular secretions, including royal jelly, which are fed to larvae.

Future Implications

The study suggests that planting for pollinators should not only focus on providing flowers throughout the season, but also on ensuring a diversity of pollen sources. A varied diet may be essential for bees to obtain the right balance of nutrients.