Phytochemical profiles of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and their larvae differ from the composition of their pollen diet
Pollen and nectar consumed by honey bees contain plantsecondary metabolites (PSMs) with vital roles in plant–insect interactions. While PSMs can be toxic to bees, theycan also be health-promoting, e.g. by improving pesticideand pathogen tolerances. As xenobiotics, PSMs undergopost-ingestion chemical modifications that can affect theirbioactivity and transmission to the brood. Despite theimportance of understanding honey bee…