They are also consuming pollen and nectar. Pollen has a lot of nutrients:sugar, carbohydrates, protein, enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

The nectar is what is turned into honey.

@zenvelo Can pollen and nectar be sold for human consumption, as a health food? Not just honey? Also can one eat royal jelly?

Sure, you can eat royal jelly. In fact it’s even marketed as a “health supplement”. However there’s no evidence to support these companies claims about it’s supposed health benefits.

Pollen, as well, is sometimes used as a food additive. But, again, no real health benefits for humans to it.

@RedDeerGuy1 A lot of “health food” stores use honey and pollen collected by bees as a homeopathic treatment for allergies. No scientific basis to say it is effective.

How do plants manage to survive on just water, sunlight and CO2? If plants can manage, I don’t see why bees would have a problem. The sugars in honey provide the necessary energy and carbon. There must also be trace amounts of other atoms to provide the rest of the material needed.