Presented by Geraldine A. Wright, Professor of Insect Neuroethology, Newcastle University.

Bees feed on floral pollen as a source of protein, fat, and micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, and sterols. In this talk, Dr. Wright will describe the chemical nature of pollen collected from across the UK. She will also show how bees refine the chemical nature of their food starting with pollen, then bee bread, and finally how bee bread is converted to royal jelly. Dr. Wright will also report data from experiments designed to test how honeybees regulate their intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to show how bees optimize their intake of essential macronutrients. In addition, she will discuss the nutritional value of commercially-available pollen substitutes and how they compare to the nutrition rendered by feeding bees with pollen. The implications of her work for bee husbandry and land management to optimize bee nutrition will also be discussed.