Low Pollen Stores

[TryingToLetThemBee]

As I understand it, and I'll find out but am acting on that basis, he sought a prolific bee, using Italian stock for that trait. And according to the Cushman site, that's what prolific bees, esp Italians, do. No bee is perfect and Buckfast is in Devon.

 

[Skyhook]

When I last looked a week ago, a minority of my hives had brood, and there was very little pollen in most hives. I'd put it down to a sudden stop in the nectar flow, but it may well have been down to lack of pollen.

Still, the ivy is opening now, so they should fill their boots on that.


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[Walrus]

No bee is perfect and Buckfast is in Devon.

Thanks!

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I mean they may well act differently outside the warmest climate in the UK and much of Europe. Dunno, as I say, but I took the view that in outer London it was worth the risk.

 

[beeno]

What was interesting was that they had mostly sealed brood or eggs and hardly and unsealed brood at all. Some colonies were bringing in a lot of what looked like Michaelmas daisy pollen and the frames next to the brood nest looked like they had been sprayed yellow.

The ivy is nearly ready - the flowers have unfurled and I can see the stamens.

Hi Polyanwood, I have noted the eggs and capped brood only scenario too all season with a few exceptions! Cannot put it down to feeding by the beek though. What colour is Michaelmas daisy pollen? Sprayed yellow can be Ragwort.

 

[Erichalfbee]

My Buckies are perfectly happy in Wales

 

[PBee]

Genetics plays a part in pollen hoarding and high pollen hoarding strains can be, and are, selected for in breeding. Feeding on the flow can also promote higher pollen collection. A couple of weeks ago, I put a pollen trap on a hive which had good stores. The collection was variable but added up...

 

[Polyanwood]

What colour is Michaelmas daisy pollen? Sprayed yellow can be Ragwort.

I haven't seen any ragwort around here beeno. The pollen looks very like dandelion pollen colour, perhaps slightly less orange.

 

[Tom Bick]

I stopped inspections a few weeks ago now so have no great idea what pollen stores they have right now and as it happens never took any great interest on my last inspections but was happy with most of the hives.

I have been observing the entrances and all are busy with some very busy and every time a good lot of pollen entering so I am reasonably happy. I also inspect the trays and on a couple of hives they are almost spotless hardly anything on them but the others not a great deal but the typical mix.

What is unusual for me this year is that I have to feed far more than previous years. After the supers were removed the bees have not built up their winter stores in the same way as previous years and I put this down to the dry summer that impacted on the late flowering plants and may also be a cause of the lack of pollen in some hives.