Entombed Pollen

[Michael Palmer]

Have you seen entombed pollen in your combs? If you did, what did you do about it.

 

[Sutty]

That just looks like a frame from the edge of a brood nest. What's the problem?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if you store your supers wet, usually the pollen mites deal with it, if not, and the bees won't clear it, scrape it out

 

[Michael Palmer]

That just looks like a frame from the edge of a brood nest. What's the problem?

Do you see the bee bread cells that have been covered by a thin layer of propolis? We had the entombed bee bread in those cells tested...full of agricultural and industrial chemicals. IMO, the bees are trying to isolate that contaminated bee bread from the colony.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Do you see the bee bread cells that have been covered by a thin layer of propolis

The shiny cells.
You could be right.
Don’t get that here. No crops save improved grassland.

 

[Dodge]

Do you see the bee bread cells that have been covered by a thin layer of propolis? We had the entombed bee bread in those cells tested...full of agricultural and industrial chemicals. IMO, the bees are trying to isolate that contaminated bee bread from the colony.

When you say Agro and Industrial chemicals what types. Pesticide / weedkiller and what about industrial, heavy metals etc. Intrigued that's all.

 

[Antipodes]

I wonder if wax moth grubs would avoid those cells too? I wouldn't imagine pollen mites could get at it?
I'll have a look for entombed pollen in comb to see if we get it here.

 

[Sutty]

Do you see the bee bread cells that have been covered by a thin layer of propolis? We had the entombed bee bread in those cells tested...full of agricultural and industrial chemicals. IMO, the bees are trying to isolate that contaminated bee bread from the colony.

Ah, I see. I was assuming they were wet with nectar. I wonder if the bees would sort it if you went over it with a "heather roller" though that would mean exposing them to the chemicals you mentioned.
Maybe just melt them down & make candles (rather than use for bees).

 

[Antipodes]

Do you see the bee bread cells that have been covered by a thin layer of propolis? We had the entombed bee bread in those cells tested...full of agricultural and industrial chemicals. IMO, the bees are trying to isolate that contaminated bee bread from the colony.

How thick is the propolis layer?

 

[masterBK]

Is this what you mean? I have always thought this is what I was told was pickled pollen (bee bread) ie cells of lactic preserved pollen

 

[Antipodes]

Is this what you mean? I have always thought this is what I was told was pickled pollen (bee bread) ie cells of lactic preserved pollen

That looks different to what Michael has, mind you, I can't enlarge your photos to get a good look at them.

 

[Michael Palmer]

When you say Agro and Industrial chemicals what types. Pesticide / weedkiller and what about industrial, heavy metals etc. Intrigued that's all.

Sorry, I no longer have access to the contaminate list

 

[Michael Palmer]

How thick is the propolis layer?

I've never measured it. Very thin...microns?

 

[Antipodes]

I've never measured it. Very thin...microns?

Ok, and did the pollen under it look similar in colour and depth to the uncovered yellowish/brown pollen in the other cells in the photo?

 

[Michael Palmer]

Is this what you mean? I have always thought this is what I was told was pickled pollen (bee bread) ie cells of lactic preserved pollen

No, that's all bee bread. Yes, almost always shiny, but different

 

[Michael Palmer]

Ok, and did the pollen under it look similar in colour and depth to the uncovered yellowish pollen in the other cells in the photo?

No it isn't the same colour. Almost always brick red. When I was in Veracruz, Mexico, I saw a lot of entombed pollen.
The apiary was on the edge of a coffee plantation. The coffee plants were dying from a fungal infection. I assume lots of fungicides being used there.

 

[Antipodes]

A few articles. I can't find anything more recent.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19361513/#:~:text=Here we describe a new,is brick red in color.

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/what-is-entombed-pollen/

https://beeinformed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022_BIP-Inspection-Cheatsheets-diseases.pdf

 

[Antipodes]

When you say Agro and Industrial chemicals what types. Pesticide / weedkiller and what about industrial, heavy metals etc. Intrigued that's all.

Perhaps the fungicide chlorothalonil? (see first link above).

 

[Dodge]

Perhaps the fungicide chlorothalonil? (see first link above).

Many thanks. Interesting that it may increase the incidence of Nosema c. And also as per many chemicals, additives etc it's banned in the EU and, hopefully/premuserably the UK to.

 

[Michael Palmer]

A few articles. I can't find anything more recent.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19361513/#:~:text=Here we describe a new,is brick red in color.

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/what-is-entombed-pollen/

https://beeinformed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022_BIP-Inspection-Cheatsheets-diseases.pdf

Excellent Antipodes. Thank you.