Adult bees foraging for food use the changing pheromone signals of the young to adjust what nutritional resources they collect. Honey bees return to the hive with one and one half times more protein-rich pollen, when exposed to young larvae as compared to old larvae. The researchers also discovered that significantly fewer foragers return home empty -- a finding that could have an impact in agricultural enterprises.

Source: Age matters: Young larvae boost pollen foraging in honey bees


David Cottle

UBB Owner & Administrator