Analysis of the Food of Larval Drone Honeybees

SummaryQuantitative chemical and microscopical analyses of the food of drone honeybee larvae were carried out every day after hatching. The food for larvae aged 5–6 days contained much sugar, less protein and many pollen grains compared with that for larvae aged 1–3 days. Results for the fourth day were transitional. The food of older larvae was inferred to consist of a small amount of pollen and a 1: 2 mixture of honey and of the food of young larvae.