REGULATION OF NECTAR COLLECTION IN RELATION TO HONEY STORAGE LEVELS BY HONEY-BEES, APIS-MELLIFERA

Honey bees collect distinct nutrient sources in the form of nectar (en ergy) and pollen (nitrogen). We investigated the effect of varying ene rgy stores on nectar and pollen foraging. We found no significant chan ges in nectar foraging in response to changes in honey storage levels within colonies. Individual foragers did not vary activity rates or ne ctar load sizes in response to changes in honey stores, and colonies d id not increase nectar intake rates when honey stores within the hive were decreased. This result contrasts with pollen foraging behavior, w hich is extremely sensitive to colony state. Our data show that indivi dual foraging decisions during nectar collection and colony regulation of nectar intake are distinctly different fi-om pollen foraging. The behavior of honey bees illustrates that foraging strategy (and therefo re foraging models) can incorporate multiple currencies, including bot h energy and protein intake.