Differential pollen collection by Africanized and European honeybees in Venezuela

Daniel G. Pesante, Thomas E. Rinderer, And Anita M. Collins

A study of pollen collection by Africanized and European honeybees was conducted in Venezuela. Among the Africanized honeybees a larger proportion of the foraging force foraged for pollen, thus collecting significantly larger quantities of pollen. The larger pollen supply would provide the protein necessary to support increased brood production, thereby increasing the opportunities for Africanized honeybee colonies to cast multiple swarms.