Science updates: Homeostasis & honey bee brood nursing & pollen supply

 

Science updates:

Homeostasis & honey bee brood nursing & pollen supply

 


The division of labor and task partitioning among adult bees is another key aspect of homeostasis. The authors explain that the task selection of individual worker bees is influenced by factors such as age, experience, and the colony's current needs. They also describe the spatial organization of the colony's combs, which is optimized for energy savings and efficient brood nursing.

 

The flow of nutrients within the colony is a complex network involving the exchange of nectar, honey, and pollen-derived jelly among bees and between bees and larvae. The authors discuss how this nutrient flow not only sustains the colony but also serves as a communication channel for regulating workload balance.

 


The regulation of nutrient stores, particularly pollen, is demand-driven. The authors note that while honey is stored in excess for overwintering, pollen reserves are managed to last only a few days. They also discuss genetic predispositions and environmental factors that influence pollen hoarding behavior.

 

Brood nursing is a critical task that requires steady care from adult bees. The authors detail the efforts bees invest in brood care, including the maintenance of a constant brood area temperature and the frequent inspection and feeding of larvae. They also highlight the impact of environmental fluctuations, such as bad weather, on brood rearing and the strategies bees use to cope with pollen shortages, including cannibalism and early capping of larvae.

 


The spatial organization of the broodnest is essential for proper thermoregulation and efficient brood production. The authors discuss the self-organizing processes that lead to the characteristic spatial arrangement of combs, with a central brood area surrounded by pollen and honey stores.

In conclusion, the review by Schmickl and Crailsheim provides an in-depth analysis of the sophisticated mechanisms honey bee colonies use to maintain nest homeostasis in the face of a changing environment. The authors emphasize the role of individual behaviors and communication processes in the precise regulation of the colony's complex social system.

 

 


Reference:

Schmickl, T., & Crailsheim, K. (2004). Inner nest homeostasis in a changing environment with special emphasis on honey bee brood nursing and pollen supply. Apidologie, 35(3), 249-263.

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