Honeybees Detect Nutrient Imbalance in Pollen and Adjust Feeding, Study Shows
Researchers found that honeybees can sense mismatched essential amino acids in pollen and modify their intake, while also converting pollen into balanced food for larvae.
In a study published in Current Biology, scientists compared the essential amino-acid composition of honeybee tissues with pollen from 99 UK plant species and found most pollen poorly matches bee nutritional requirements. Experiments with artificial diets revealed that bees eat less when histidine levels are high, indicating a post-digestive control that prevents excess intake. When offered food resembling their own tissue composition, bees increased consumption, gained weight, and favored protein-rich diets.
Inside the hive, workers transform mixed pollen into bee bread, and nurse bees further process it into royal jelly, providing larvae with an almost perfect amino-acid balance. The researchers warn that wild bees lacking this processing ability may struggle in habitats with limited floral diversity. They suggest pollinator-friendly planting schemes should prioritize a variety of pollen sources, not just flower abundance.
Why it matters
Understanding bees' nutritional strategies can guide planting and conservation efforts to support pollinator populations.
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