A COMPARISON OF POLLEN CONSUMPTION AND DIGESTION IN HONEYBEE (APIS-MELLIFERA-CARNICA) DRONES AND WORKERS

Apis mellifera carnica (POLLM) drones consume pollen during their first days of life; after they start to fly, pollen consumption is negligible. Intestinal proteolytic activity is low at emergence; the maximum is reached between the 3rd and 4th days, and is extremely low in flying drones. Pollen digestion is low in older drones. Proteolytic activity occurs only in the midgut, which changes its weight and colour during adult fife. Activity is greatest in the most posterior part. Compared to worker bees, pollen consumption, proteolytic activity and pollen digestion are lower in all age groups of drones that consume significant amounts of pollen. This is true although the drones have about twice the body mass of worker bees. The differences are discussed as being caused by the different strategies of nourishment and different duties of workers and drones.