Since ancient times, honeybee drone pupae have been used as food and for medicinal purposes in Asia, the United States, and Europe. Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae have been registered as food ingredients in Korea. This material is promising as an alternative food source. It has carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and contains various amino acids and fatty acids as well as minerals and vitamins. Prior studies have empirically demonstrated the microbiological and chemical safety of honeybee drone pupae. The health functional effects of this material have been documented as well. However, to the best of my knowledge, no review has been conducted on the published studies to date. This review aimed to summarize the research findings on honeybee drone pupae thus far. Online databases were searched according to the selection criteria, duplicate reports were excluded, and 22 eligible articles were reviewed. Conclusionally, it was confirmed that honeybee drone pupae have various nutritional components, safety as a food and cosmetic material, and various available possibilities, but more systematic studies are needed to increase their consumption. Therefore, it is believed that this synopsis will help guide future research on honeybee drone pupae.
Keywords: Hymenoptera; alternative foods; edible insects; entomophagy; novel foods.