Journal of Ecology and Environment

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
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Honey bees and their brood: a potentially valuable resource of food, worthy of greater appreciation and scientific attention

  • Ghosh, Sampat (Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University) ;
  • Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno (Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University) ;
  • Jung, Chuleui (Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University)
  • Received : 2021.10.10
  • Accepted : 2021.11.18
  • Published : 2021.12.31
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Abstract

Despite the consumption of bee brood in several parts of the world, particularly in the tropical areas, the practice has received comparatively little attention. We have reviewed all the available information on the nutrient composition and functional properties of different developmental stages of honey bee workers belonging to different species and subspecies. Noticing the competent nutrient composition of, in particular, honey bee brood, pupae, and prepupae, we suggest that they could be a potential source of human nutrition as well as animal feed. Moreover, drone brood is an ideal candidate for use as a food or as food ingredient. However, to analyze the functional properties of different honey bee species remains a task for further analysis.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was partly supported by the BSRP through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Ministry of Education (NRF-2018 R1 A6 A1 A03024862).

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