Scot Mc Pherson  wrote:

>Pollen is the primary nutritive source for larvae, sugar is the primary
>nutritive source for adult bees. However, some pollen is digested by the
>bees, and honey is an ingredient of the bread given to larvae. 

Right. What I said was an oversimplification. But there simply is no
credible evidence that bees on a diet of real pollen and cane sugar will
suffer. Whatever trace elements there are in honey, are not required by them
for their survival nor their prosperity. Furthermore, some impurities in
honey can caused illness in overwintering colonies. 

To follow the human nutrition metaphor: sure, if you only ate white bread
instead of whole wheat, you would miss out on the protein and vitamins in
the natural grain. But if you put cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions on
the bread, you'll do fine. Honey is only the energy component of bees' diet
and does not supply a meaningful amount of vitamins and minerals. 

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