The Utilization of Carbohydrates as Food by Honeybee Larvae

Abstract

The food of honeybee larvae, as of animals in general, consists of mixtures of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, mineral salts, water, and presumably vitamins. But, of course, this statement does not mean that the larvae can utilize all the carbohydrates, all the proteins, all the fats, etc. Thus far, however, no one has reported any attempt to discover which particular ones from each of these classes of foods the larvae can use. Since carbohydrates constitute one of the most important classes of foods, and since they are for the most part well known chemically, it has seemed to the writer logical to begin the consideration of this problem with an investigation of the ability of the larvae to use carbohydrates as food. This investigation seemed worth while for two reasons: (1) It might be of practical value to the beekeeper to know which carbohydrates the larvae can utilize, since during the latter part of their larval life workers and drones are fed large quantities of carbohydrates, often furnished by the beekeeper; (2) from the point of view of compara-tive physiology it would be of interest to know how honeybee larvae compare with honeybee adults, and also with other insect larvae and adults, in their ability to utilize certain carbohydrates.