Bee bread

Definition

A fermented mixture of pollen, nectar or honey, and glandular secretions stored by honey bees (Apis spp.) in comb cells as the primary protein source for workers and larvae. Microorganisms added during packing break down pollen walls, releasing amino acids and enhancing nutritional availability. Composition varies with forage plant, season, location, and time of day.

Etymology

Example

In a managed Apis mellifera colony, bee bread is packed into cells adjacent to the brood nest, where nurse bees consume it to synthesize royal jelly for feeding larvae.

Synonyms

• Ambrosia
• bee pollen

Related Terms

• Pollen basket
• Propolis
• Royal jelly
• honey
• nurse bee
• brood cell
• apis

Usage Notes

Distinguish from raw bee pollen (the field-gathered pellets before storage and fermentation) and from honey (carbohydrate stores). The term "ambrosia" appears in older literature but is ambiguous; prefer "bee bread" for the stored, fermented product. Not all bees make bee bread—some solitary bees consume pollen directly without fermentation.