Which food do honey bee larvae and young workers eat?

The correct choice indicates that honey bee larvae and young workers eat a mixture of nectar and pollen, known as "bee bread." This food source is rich in nutrients and serves as a staple for the developing larvae and the young worker bees. Bee bread provides essential proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and lipids that are crucial for growth and development.

When honey bee larvae are young, they primarily consume royal jelly, which is a special secretion produced by nurse bees. However, as they mature and become young workers, their diet shifts to include bee bread. This transition reflects their evolving nutritional needs as they move from being in the brood stage to engaging in tasks like foraging and hive maintenance.

It's important to note that while honey is a food source for adult bees, larvae do not consume honey directly. Similarly, royal jelly is specifically produced for feeding young larvae but is not the primary nutrition for young worker bees post-larval stage. The mixture of nectar and pollen, therefore, is the most accurate description of the diet of larvae and young workers as it supports their growth and development effectively in the hive environment.