That's my question - if the digestion process breaks the exine so the
cytoplasm can be digested, why would the process stop?  Over a period of
several days, couldn't the exines be more completely dissolved, leaving
negligible remnants?

 

There are native bees that transport pollen in their crops to ground nests,
apparently without removal by the proventriculus.  Perhaps the H B has some
voluntary control over the proventriculus, or simply overwhelms its function
by filling the crop to capacity with pollen grains?

 

DC


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