On 24/12/2012 4:37 AM, randy oliver wrote:

> Actually, they do not need to be fed any pollen at all.  Pollen may simply
> be a contaminant.
>
> Also from the mandibular glands. Three main components to brood
> food--secretions from both glands, plus nectar. The protein source
> does not need to be pollen and nectar--can be cannibalized brood.

Randy, can you clarify these two comments?Are you saying that workers
are fed only secretions, albeit small amounts. Protein whatever the
source is eaten only by adult bees?
> Actually, this may be backwards.  The default is a queen.  Only through
> starvation are workers produced.

Solitary bees would have to feed themselves.  What happens with the spp.
that start the season as a fertilized female and then accrue workers
during the season?

Geoff Manning

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