The Life of the Individual 
131 
Probably bees consume more pollen than beekeepers usually 
believe but their main source of nourishment is honey. 
Carbohydrates do not furnish the nourishment suitable 
for the rebuilding of worn-out tissues and this may be at 
least a partial explanation of the differences in the term 
of life. The queen is, however, fed on predigested food all 
her life and it is usually assumed that this is comparable 
to royal jelly. If this assumption is correct, her food pro¬ 
vides her with fats and proteids as well as sugars. 
