Some insect insights that you might not Bee aware of:

Honey is not made from bee pollen instead honey comes from plant nectar or from a substance called ‘honeydew,’ a residue from insects which feed on sweet tree sap.

Bruce Boynton, chief executive officer of the National Honey Board explains “Honey is the substance made when the nectar and sweet deposits from plants are gathered, modified, and stored in the honeycomb by honey bees. Pollen is not a raw material for honey. While pollen is brought back to the hive by the bees, it serves as a source of protein for young bees.”

Kim Flottum, editor of the industry journal Bee Culture reflects on the liberal logic associated with this condensed perspective saying, “Lighter honey is made from pollen? Good grief. And dark honeys are made from honey dew, by your definition completely made from insect droppings, and nothing else?”

Dark honeys or honey dew are made when bees utilize the sugary substances other insects leave on trees and plants (in a sense insect poop) but other essential elements are also present so when you present the public with distilled information people will remain in the dark about the other beneficial properties in honey.  

Although you may quince at the thought of drizzling droppings on your morning toast, honey harvested in this manner does contain a richer profile of amino acids and antioxidants, according to Flottum and Boynton.

Bee Resources:
Bug Bios
Bee Culture
Whole Foods- Honey
National Honey Board
The Bee Keepers Blog