>Because brood rearing commences before pollen starts to come in
> "anticipating" spring
Yes, this is normal, so long as there are protein reserves, either in the
bees' bodies or in stored beebread. This pre-pollen broodrearing is
critical in order to get ready for the first pollen.
> > and "diutinus" (long lasting) bees are raised in fall during abundant
> pollen and nectar flow, again "anticipating" the coming dearth.
>
That's not how I interpret Harris' or Mattila's data. There is no
anticipation. Diutinus bees are not "raised"--- the physiological change
comes *after* emergence, cued by lack of fresh incoming pollen and brood
pheromone.
>
> --
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
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