Christina, you and I appear to be reaching the same conclusion--that for an
insect that can't compensate by taking supplements or eating other foods, a
change in the protein and mineral content of its diet can potentially
result in substantial effects.  I'm particularly concerned about zinc,
since it is such a critical nutrient for bees, since it is a component of
vitellogenin.

Zhang 2015 Zinc nutrition increases the antioxidant defenses of honey bees,
found that bees need a diet of about 60 ppm zinc; Brodshneider and
 Crailsheim earlier recommended at least 50 ppb.

Villanueva 2009 Mineral content of commercial pollen, found zinc was about
30 ppm; ditto for Szczêsna 2007 CONCENTRATION OF SELECTED ELEMENTS IN
HONEYBEE-COLLECTED POLLEN.

The above hard data suggest that zinc may well be a limiting nutrient for
honey bees.  A reduction in its content in pollen could have measurable
impact.

I suggest that we need to do further research.

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

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