Amino acid content and nectar choice by forager honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).
Dual choice feeding tests were performed to determine a preference of forager honeybees for specific amino acids. Artificial nectar containing proline was preferred over those containing only sugars. Nectar containing alanine was preferred on the first day, but preference was no longer significant thereafter. On the contrary, a negative response was found for serine. When the bees were given the choice between two nectars enriched with different compounds, proline was preferred above both alanine and serine, and alanine above serine.
Bertazzini
Michele
M
Dipartimento di Biologia e Evoluzione, Università di Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44100, Ferrara, Italy.
Medrzycki
Piotr
P
Bortolotti
Laura
L
Maistrello
Lara
L
Forlani
Giuseppe
G
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D057048:Plant Nectar / Q000737:chemistry*
D000596:Amino Acids; D057048:Plant Nectar