The previously suggested protection from microbial attack of ripening nectar by the addition of glucose oxidase by the common honey bee, Apis mellifera L., has been found to occur in 9 other eusocial Hymenoptera from 3 superfamilies. The antibacterial effect results from the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide produced by the enzyme during ripening of the stores.
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D. M. Burgett (1974) studied this question.
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