MontImageMedia - In Memoriam
Bees Collecting Pollen.
Queens, males, workers and larvae require vitamin B complex and vitamin C for proper growth and development. Honey bees also collect proteins from plant pollen, which they bring back to their nest. Male honey bees obtain protein from the secretions of young workers combined with honey or pollen. Queens and honey bee larvae collect their protein requirements from royal jelly secreted by those same young workers.
As young honey bees mature, their need for protein decreases and they depend upon carbohydrates and sugar, or lipids, for the majority of their diet. Honey and nectar collected by bees contains both sugar and carbohydrates, which produce energy. This energy is converted to body fat and is stored for future use during cold weather.
Honey bees obtain necessary vitamins from royal jelly, pollen and various microorganisms within the hive. If worker bees collect and store significant amounts of pollen, a colony has no need to seek out alternate protein sources.
Bees Collecting Pollen.
Queens, males, workers and larvae require vitamin B complex and vitamin C for proper growth and development. Honey bees also collect proteins from plant pollen, which they bring back to their nest. Male honey bees obtain protein from the secretions of young workers combined with honey or pollen. Queens and honey bee larvae collect their protein requirements from royal jelly secreted by those same young workers.
As young honey bees mature, their need for protein decreases and they depend upon carbohydrates and sugar, or lipids, for the majority of their diet. Honey and nectar collected by bees contains both sugar and carbohydrates, which produce energy. This energy is converted to body fat and is stored for future use during cold weather.
Honey bees obtain necessary vitamins from royal jelly, pollen and various microorganisms within the hive. If worker bees collect and store significant amounts of pollen, a colony has no need to seek out alternate protein sources.