Feeding Bees Right: Why What You Feed Matters More Than You Think

 If you’ve ever asked, “Does it really matter what kind of pollen my bees are getting?” this post is for you. A 2025 study shows how different pollens don’t just feed bees, they shape their gut health and immune strength. This could change how you choose bee forage or supplements, especially with climate change reducing natural floral diversity.

Climate shifts and ongoing droughts are changing what plants bloom—and what pollen is available to bees. But does it matter what kind of pollen bees eat?

Absolutely. A new study by Braglia et al. (2025) examined how pollen from different plant families affects bee health. Bees were fed monofloral pollen from well-known plant types, and the impact on their gut microbiomes and immune proteins was measured. Here’s what they found:

🧬 Gut Microbiome: The Big Mover

 Even though different pollen types didn’t change the bees’ total blood protein levels, they had a big effect on the gut microbiome, which influences digestion, disease resistance, and stress resilience.

Some highlights:

• 🌿 Willows (Salicaceae) – significantly reduced beneficial gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

• 🌸 Legumes (Leguminosae) – including clovers (Trifolium), boosted almost all core gut microbes.

• 🌼 Roses and Brambles (Rosaceae) – had a moderate impact; reduced Bifidobacterium but left others stable.

• 🌻 Daisies and Asters (Asteraceae), such as centaury, reduced some bacteria like Snodgrassella and Bartonella.

• 🌳 Oaks and Chestnuts (Fagaceae) – increased total bacterial count, though some beneficial species declined.

• 🌺 Cistus and Rockroses (Cistaceae) – increased good gut microbes like Bombilactobacillus and Lactobacillus.

• 🌾 Borage family (Boraginaceae) – affected gut bacteria inconsistently, depending on the species.

• 🌳 Dogwoods (Cornaceae) – reduced key gut bacteria Gilliamella and Snodgrassella.

  
  

Immune System Peptides Affected Too

Pollen also influenced the bees' production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)—proteins like Apidaecin and Abaecin that help bees fight infections.

• Bees fed mixed pollen had a modest increase in Apidaecin (broad-spectrum AMP).

• Bees fed willow (Salicaceae) or dogwood (Cornaceae) pollen had reduced levels of protective AMPs and immune inhibitors.

What This Means for Your Apiary

Diversity matters. Don’t just look at protein levels—look at the source. Choosing pollen from beneficial families (like legumes and rockroses) can boost bee gut health and immune readiness. And if you’re feeding pollen substitutes, consider what’s in them and what botanical sources they mimic.

If you’re planting for bees, go beyond pretty flowers. Include:

• Clover and vetch (Leguminosae)

• Borage and echium (Boraginaceae)

• Rockrose (Cistus, from the Cistaceae family)

• Brambles and wild apples (Rosaceae)

And be cautious about over-reliance on:

• Willow (Salix)

• Dogwood (Cornus)

  
  

 Full article available here: Nature Scientific Reports, 2025 – Braglia et al.