Individual foraging decisions during nectar collection and colony regulation of nectar intake are distinctly different from pollen foraging.

 Honey bees collect distinct nutrient sources in the form of nectar (energy) and pollen (nitrogen). Fewell and Winston (1996) investigated the effect of varying energy stores on nectar and pollen foraging. They found no significant changes in nectar foraging in response to changes in honey storage levels within colonies. Individual foragers did not vary activity rates or nectar load sizes in response to changes in honey stores, and colonies did not increase nectar intake rates when honey stores within the hive were decreased. This result contrasts with pollen foraging behaviour, which is extremely sensitive to colony state. Their data show that individual foraging decisions during nectar collection and colony regulation of nectar intake are distinctly different from pollen foraging.

Honey bee foragers specialise on collecting pollen and nectar. Pollen forag