What substance do honeybees primarily collect from flowering plants?

Honeybees primarily collect nectar from flowering plants because it serves as the main source of carbohydrates for the hive. Nectar is a sugary fluid secreted by flowers, designed to attract pollinators like bees. When honeybees visit flowers, they use their long proboscis to extract the nectar, which they then transport back to the hive in their honey stomachs. Once there, the nectar is converted into honey through a process of enzymatic activity and evaporation.

While pollen is also collected by honeybees, its primary role is as a protein source for brood development rather than as an energy source for the colony. Water is collected for various purposes, such as cooling the hive and diluting food, but it is not a primary substance they seek out from flowering plants. Propolis, a resinous substance, is gathered from tree buds and is used for hive construction and maintenance, rather than collected from flowers as nectar and pollen are. Thus, nectar stands out as the significant substance that bees primarily gather to sustain their colony.