> bees do not forage for pollen based on protein content
More recent work comes to the same conclusion:
> foragers cannot assess pollen’s protein content (Beekman, 2016).
However, they may send out more foragers to compensate for protein deficit in the hive. This would be difficult to verify, but seems plausible.
PLB
Beekman, M., K. Preece, and T. M. Schaerf. "Dancing for their supper: Do honeybees adjust their recruitment dance in response to the protein content of pollen?." Insectes sociaux 63.1 (2016): 117-126.
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