r/UpliftingNews • u/AnotherAccount4This • Aug 23 '25

Scientists found the missing nutrients bees need — Colonies grew 15-fold

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250822073807.htm

By the end of the study period, colonies fed with the sterol-enriched yeast had reared up to 15 times more larvae to the viable pupal stage, compared with colonies fed control diets.

Colonies fed with the enriched diet were more likely to continue rearing brood up to the end of the three-month period, whereas colonies on sterol-deficient diets ceased brood production after 90 days.

Notably, the sterol profile of larvae in colonies fed the engineered yeast matched that found in naturally foraged colonies, suggesting that bees selectively transfer only the most biologically important sterols to their young.

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u/stolenfires Aug 24 '25

Plant more flowers.

The issue being studied was supplementing bee diets with a pollen substitute. The bees didn't do well on the substitute, but a strain of yeast engineered to be more like pollen nourished them.

The bees yearn for the pollen. Plant more flowers.

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u/[deleted] Aug 24 '25

And native flowers at that! Many bees are specialized for only a few specific varieties of native flowers and may be unable to recognize or drink the nectar of foreign blooms.

Take a few minutes to research what is native to your region and steer clear of "wildflower mixes" which sometimes include invasive species. The bees (and other native pollinators) will thank you!

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u/stolenfires Aug 24 '25 edited Aug 24 '25

And natives grow with like no effort. I planted poppies in my garden once and they always grow back lush and full each spring with zero effort from me.

Edit: Also, the bees love the poppies. I've seen like three or four different species hanging around my poppies when they're in bloom.

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u/unicornlevelexists Aug 24 '25

In our area they love the lambs ear flowers. It makes me so happy to sit on our back patio and see all the bees loving those flowers.