Protein trophallaxis and the regulation of pollen foraging by honey bees (Apis melliofera L.) [pollen forager, nurse bee]

Pollen foragers quickly sense increases in colony pollen stores, and modify their foraging activity appropriately. In association with these changes in foraging behavior, nurse bees transfer a larger portion of newly synthesized 14C-phenylalanine-labeled protein to the foragers. These findings support the hypothesis that trophallactic interactions between nurse bees and pollen foragers may serve as a cue apprising pollen foragers of the colony's need for pollen