Effect of the Age of Pollen Used in Pollen Supplements on Their Nutritive Value for the Honeybee. I. Effect on Thoracic Weight, Development of Hypopharyngeal Glands, and Brood Rearing

SummarySignificant relationships were found between the age of pollen used in pollen supplements and the following characteristics of worker bees reared on them: development of hypopharyngeal glands; time to reach maximum thoracic weight; number of bees reared per gram of supplement consumed. Small colonies fed on pollen supplements reared more brood, but those fed on pollen substitutes maintained brood rearing for a longer time. It is concluded that the supplement was more attractive to the bees, but the substitute more nutritious. The addition of brewer's yeast to the supplement— or pollen to the substitute—might give a diet that is both attractive and nutritious.