Bees play an important role in the life support process. Various plants could not reproduce without pollination. Mortality of bees negatively affects the supply of people with food. But besides bees, bumblebees deserve close attention, which we will discuss in the article.
Insect nutrition
Bees and bumblebees get most of the nutrients from the main food source - nectar and pollen. Nectar contains a large amount of carbohydrates, and pollen contains fats, proteins and vitamins. Scientists claim that insects, like herbivores, prefer a low-calorie diet.
Specialists even developed a two-stage approach, including experiments on the training and feeding of insects. It will allow you to better monitor the eating habits of bees and bumblebees.
Bumblebee experiments
The first experience helped to identify the taste preferences of bumblebees. Scientists have found out what nutrients like these insects - proteins or fats. For the first time, such experiments were carried out in 1963 in Europe by several scientists.
During the experiment, small amounts of fatty acids were added to the pollen to increase the fat content. A bumblebee can clearly distinguish between normal pollen and one that has more fat. Thus, insects chose protein pollen.
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Surprisingly, bumblebees did not make a clear distinction when the amino acid content in the two plants was the same. No matter how funny it may sound, insects do not need extra calories.
Taste preferences
What nutrients influence the eating behavior of bumblebees and what are the consequences of their survival and breeding? These are the main questions that needed to be answered in the course of this experiment.
Pollen, in which fat is contained in large quantities, bumblebees prefer not to eat. Too much fat is deadly for them. Therefore, fatty acids adversely affect the reproductive ability of insects. Bees and bumblebees understand what kind of food they need.
The body of an average bee or bumblebee contains about 60% protein, which increases body weight and lengthens the life of an insect. Scientists have proven that bumblebees with a low protein content dramatically decrease life expectancy.
Insects with a good protein reserve can easily tolerate cold, and in the warm season they pollinate qualitatively. With intensive work, such a diet strengthens the body of bees and bumblebees during the collection of nectar. That is why these insects require a balanced protein diet.
