Bees are able to detect when food contains an unfavorable balance of essential amino acids and reduce how much they eat, protecting themselves from consuming harmful amounts. Honeybees may also have evolved a solution for feeding their young.

By combining pollen from different flowers and processing it inside the hive, they produce nutrient-rich secretions that closely match the needs of growing larvae. The findings challenge the common assumption that pollen is naturally an ideal food for bees.