Differences in pollen preferences between young worker bees and mature foragers (Apis mellifera L.)

Abstract

Pollen selection in Apis mellifera colonies is crucial for their development and productivity. Bees consume the pollen stored in the hive at early ages (mostly when they perform as nurses) but switch from consuming it to collecting it when they mature into foragers. Because of these differences in pollen use, we hypothesize that pollen preferences between young bees and foragers are not the same. In addition, we hypothesize that pollen preferences are also affected by experiences with the resource. To study differences in pollen preferences between the two groups, we compared the consumption preferences of nurse-aged workers for four monofloral pollens in the cages where they were confined, versus the foraging preferences of free-flying mature foragers for the same pollens offered in a foraging station. To study whether pollen experience affects choices, initial preferences and preferences obtained several hours after offering pollen were compared in both young bees and foragers. We observed that the pollen preferences of young bees and foragers were different and were modified by the experience. Interestingly, preferences of experienced young bees and foragers became more similar to each other than when they were naïves, a response that could be advantageous for the nutrition of early workers, who would have resources available in a proportion more similar to the one they consume.