bees covered in orange pollen

[keith pierce]

some of my bees have been coming in covered with orange pollen for the last week. I know that its suppose to be dandelion, but as far as I can see its completely finished around here. Any other suggestions.

 

[Tim.S]

Laburnum trees?

 

[BeeJayBee]

Buttercups? The fields here are yellow with them.

 

[raathistle]

Buttercups sounds very plausible. My hives have all had these vivid orange payloads recently and I hadn't twigged that there are several acres of paddock nearby covered in the things

 

[richardbees]

great pics Keith, yes, it is unusual and like with Himalayan Balsam in autumn/

re buttercups above - it's not querying the pollen load but the covering on the bees backs

 

[davnig]

great pics Keith, yes, it is unusual and like with Himalayan Balsam in autumn/

re buttercups above - it's not querying the pollen load but the covering on the bees backs

can't help with the pollen i'm afraid, but just wanted to say fabulous pics, what camera/lens do you use to get your pics

 

[susbees]

That abdominal "V" is very distinctive: but a look at photos of bees on buttercups (we have a whole field of our own which the bees ignore) shows them working round the edge in a circles (as they do with geraniums)...so no pollen on the back...

...but not dandelion which is an all-over dusting and clings to the wing roots.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Still the right colour for dandelion (haven't seen it anywhere apart from the pollen baskes on my bees- laburnum about the same colour. ut quite afew flowers of that colour

 

[beekim]

fantastic pics as always.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh - and buttercup is a more paler washed out type of uellow

 

[dclewis]

I've had the same here, and again the main flush of dandelion has past. However there seems to be a better flowering from broom this year. I was wondering if that is more likely than buttercup?

 

[Teemore]

I am seeing the same coloured pollen in a couple of my apiaries and foragers similarly coated with the pollen. It is not the colour I normally associate with Whin/Gorse but there is a lot of Whin in flower in the locality of those apiaries and had wondered if that was the source..... Will have to investigate if i get a chance. has anyone else any suggestions as to the potential pollen source?

 

[keith pierce]

My brothers bees are the same and he said, he seen them working the buttercup and they are covered in pollen. He is going to try and get a photo this evening

 

[Teemore]

Isn't there a condition associated with bees going overboard on Buttercup Pollen? I'll have to go look at Google now......

 

[Dishmop]

They've been Tango'd

 

[beeno]

My brothers bees are the same and he said, he seen them working the buttercup and they are covered in pollen. He is going to try and get a photo this evening

Sounds great keith we are relying on you as always. Don't forget about the coffee table book for Xmas for all the hobbists!

 

[Ruary]

Brassica ?

 

[biglongdarren]

we any the wiser to where this pollen is coming from,my bees are covered in it to.
Darren

 

[Bomber]

My bees are the same and there is a huge field of oil seed rape nearby so I assumed it was from there, they only started turning yellow when the oil seed rape came into flower.

Just a suggestion as new to this.

 

[betterbee]

mine too / buttercup everywhere