Variations in Nutritional Requirements Across Bee Species

With 2,000 species currently recorded in Europe, bees are a highly diversified and efficient group of pollinating insects. They obtain their nutrients from nectar pollen flowers. However, the chemical composition these resources, especially (e.g., protein, lipid, amino acids, fatty or sterol content), is variable among plant species. While it well-known that show interspecific variation floral choices, there lack information on nutritional requirements different bee We therefore developed original experiments laboratory conditions to evaluate variations requirements. analyzed content eight blends, terms sterols total concentration profiles. Each blend was provided four model species: honey ( Apis mellifera ), bumblebees Bombus terrestris mason Osmia bicornis cornuta ). For each species, specific protocols were used monitor development weight, timing, survival) resource collection. Overall, we found across those different, low-quality diet for one not necessarily another one. negatively impacted by diets with high protein (~40%), develop normally but struggle low acid content, specifically concentrations 24-methylenecholesterol β-sitosterol. our study supports need conserving and/or introducing diversity into managed ecosystems meet natural preferences at community level.