>It is still debated whether pollen-collecting insects, such as honey bees
and bumblebees, maximize foraging efficiency by preferentially switching to
protein-rich pollen.

Missing from this discussion is the fact that there is strong selective
pressure for races of bees to develop preferences for foraging on pollen
sources that most benefit the colonies.  Note that honey bees, which
evolved in Europe, often avoid collecting pollen from New World crops
(corn, sunflower, cucurbits) if there are Old World plants within flight
range.

Once a race of bees has adapted to a particular habitat, identification of
the best pollen pollen sources can become instinctive, with no nutritional
assessment necessary.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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