Bringing home pollen

[steve1958]

A question, just out of interest really.

I have noted a few posts on site when people are questioning whether their Hive is Queenless, the answer often given is that if the Bees are bringing home pollen then all is well.

My question is this.
If I have a Hive that is queenless
with no queen cells.
Will my Bees still continue to collect pollen?

If the answer is no then what will they be doing?

 

[EdNewman]

I had a hive a few months back that was q- (confirmed with a test frame) and the bees were bringing in loads of pollen, so it's not a sign I would personaly trust.

 

[chickendave]

Most probably they will still bring in pollen and they will also be bringing in nectar as there is a flow on at the moment

 

[huntsman666]

All it says is that larvae of some sort need feeding.

This could be due to a drone laying queen or laying workers.

So use it as a guide only.

 

[steve1958]

So what if there was no queen, no larvae to feed.
Just a Broodless Hive with Bees in it.

Would they still be out collecting pollen.

I know that eventualy such a colony would die off.

By the way, this is only a thought that popped up in my mind
My own Bees are doing well at this moment in time.
Pollen, nectar, and contentment

 

[oliver90owner]

Taken as a good sign, as opposed to a negative indication, is one thing. Using the single sign as a definitive diagnosis is another entirely different matter.

But thatis beekeeping.

RAB

 

[MrB]

So what if there was no queen, no larvae to feed.
Just a Broodless Hive with Bees in it.

Would they still be out collecting pollen.

Simple answer, Yes!
I have seen it happening

 

[EdNewman]

So what if there was no queen, no larvae to feed.
Just a Broodless Hive with Bees in it.

Would they still be out collecting pollen.

I know that eventualy such a colony would die off.

By the way, this is only a thought that popped up in my mind
My own Bees are doing well at this moment in time.
Pollen, nectar, and contentment

This was the situation for my hive (see my first post). They had been q- for about 6 weeks, no eggs, larvae or anything to feed but lots of pollen still coming in.
That hive has now been united with another.

Ed.

 

[greatbritishhoney]

It can be a useful sign if you have a virgin queen in a hive that you are waiting to be mated.
Once I see pollen going in I take that as a sign that I can do a quick inspection for eggs.

I wouldn't bet any money on it though.

 

[jimmybee]

Yes they will but you will see a large number of dead bees around

 

[plumberman]

Totally agree that it should not be taken as a definitive sign one way or another. I do think though when brood rearing that the quantities seem to be greater, with a greater proportion of workers with pollen baskets full to the brim.