The features of protein nutrition and protein requirements of honey bees must be taken into account, given that bees are social insects, and should be examined at three levels: bee colony nutrition; adult bee nutrition; larva nutrition, since disturbances in protein nutrition at the previous stages of development affect the subsequent stages and vice versa. The content of free amino acids in the main protein sources - pollen, bee bread royal jelly, as well as the content of amino acids in some bee protein additives and in whey was examined. The quality of the natural bee protein food, must be evaluated, depends on the essential amino acid content, especially leucine, isoleucine and valine. When replacing the natural protein food of bee colonies, with other protein additives and substitutes, it is necessary to consider the protein and essential amino content, and also the lysine/arginine ratio, as an index of the quality of the protein and the protein additive respectively.