The nectar

Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries. It is produces either by extrafloral nectaries or within the flowers, attracting pollinating animals like the honeybees, or other nectar-consuming animals or insects such as: mosquitos, butterflies, moths, humming birds or bats. Nectar plays an important role in the overall evolution of nectar-eating species; for example, nectar and its properties are responsible for the differential evolution of the African honey bee and the European honey bee. Initially, due to its composition rich in simple sugars, nectar was generally perceived as „sugary water”, but, later on, multiple studies have shown that it is made up of a complex mixture of components. Additional compounds found in a variety of nectars include other sugars, all 20 standard amino acids, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, organic acids, oils, free fatty acids, metal ions and proteins. The nectar gathered by the honey bees is then turned into honey by means of some very elaborate processes part of which aging, ripening is important. The transformation of nectar intro honey is a very interesting process. Find out more about it right here.