Study Finds Honeybees Produce Nutrient-Rich Food for Developing Larvae

Researchers have found that honeybees produce a specialised food that provides developing larvae with a balanced diet. The study found that adult bees can also adjust how much they eat when pollen does not contain the right balance of essential amino acids needed for growth.

Scientists compared the nutrient content of pollen from 99 species of British flowering plants with the amino acid profile of honeybee tissues. Laboratory tests showed that bees fed diets closer to their nutritional needs ate more, gained more body mass and consumed a better balance of protein.

The researchers also found that honeybees improve the nutritional value of pollen by mixing it into "bee bread," which is eaten by nurse bees. These bees then produce royal jelly, a nutrient-rich food that closely matches the amino acid needs of developing larvae.

The findings, published in Current Biology, suggest that a wide variety of flowering plants is important for healthy bee populations. Researchers say pollinator-friendly planting should focus not only on increasing the number of flowers but also on providing diverse pollen sources with good nutritional value.