biostudies-literatureAnderson KENIGMS NIH HHS5904-17https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4285803biostudies-literatureUnknown23(23)Honey bee hives are filled with stored pollen, honey, plant resins and wax, all antimicrobial to differing degrees. Stored pollen is the nutritionally rich currency used for colony growth and consists of 40-50% simple sugars. Many studies speculate that prior to consumption by bees, stored pollen undergoes long-term nutrient conversion, becoming more nutritious 'bee bread' as microbes predigest the pollen. We quantified both structural and functional aspects associated with this hypothesis using behavioural assays, bacterial plate counts, microscopy and 454 amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from both newly collected and hive-stored pollen. We found that bees preferentially consume fresh pollen stored for <3 days. Newly collected pollen contained few bacteria, values which decreased Molecular ecologyHive-stored pollen of honey bees: many lines of evidence are consistent with pollen preservation, not nutrient conversion.PMC42858035K12GM000708-13Sheehan TLanan MCAnderson KEMott BMMaes PCorby-Harris VCarroll MJfalseHive-stored pollen of honey bees: many lines of evidence are consistent with pollen preservation, not nutrient conversion.Honey bee hives are filled with stored pollen, honey, plant resins and wax, all antimicrobial to differing degrees. Stored pollen is the nutritionally rich currency used for colony growth and consists of 40-50% simple sugars. Many studies speculate that prior to consumption by bees, stored pollen undergoes long-term nutrient conversion, becoming more nutritious 'bee bread' as microbes predigest the pollen. We quantified both structural and functional aspects associated with this hypothesis using behavioural assays, bacterial plate counts, microscopy and 454 amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from both newly collected and hive-stored pollen. We found that bees preferentially consume fresh pollen stored for <3 days. Newly collected pollen contained few bacteria, values which decreased 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z2014 Dec2026-04-29T11:14:16.847Z2026-04-07T15:11:45.523ZS-EPMC42858032531936610.1111/mec.12966