>
> •       Is a fresh, low-nutrient pollen like corn of higher value than a
> higher-nutrient pollen like almond that is months-old? Or is the amino acid
> mix more important than the age?
>

Both are important, so can't say that one would be better than the other.


> •       Do nurse bees prefer fresh, low-value pollen over stored,
> high-value pollen?
>

I don't know of any hard data, but Kirk Anderson's studies suggest fresh.


> •       Is pollen substitute of higher or lower value than high-nutrient
> pollen that has been overwintered as beebread?
>

Again, no hard data.  Would depend greatly upon the fresh value of each.
But in general, long-aged beebread is discarded by the bees.


> •       Do nurse bees prefer real, stored pollen or fresh pollen
> substitute?
>

From my own trials, they consume fresh incoming pollen preferentially, and
ignore pollen sub during a good pollen flow.  But they EAGERLY consume a
good sub if there is any shortage of incoming pollen.



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

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