> >Lunden (1954) showed that 10 essential amino acids (for honeybees) are
> always present in all pollens in about the same quantity


Certain pollens (such as any composite) may be deficient in certain amino
acids. For example, Herbert found that colonies would crash if fed only
dandelion pollen.

I suspect that this is why foragers appear to have an innate behavior to
seek out pollens different than those being brought back by the
majority--getting a mix into the hive gives a better chance of a good
balance.

When the main pollen source(s) are deficient in any limiting nutrient, then
the total value of that pollen is thus limited by that single nutrient in
short supply.  The limiting nutrient could be an amino acid, a vitamin, a
sterol, or a trace element.

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

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