enrico
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
- 12,031
- Reaction score
- 3,321
- Location
- Somerset levels
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5
My bees have been bringing in pollen that colour too. I have dahlias, rudbeckia, echinacea and globe thistles flowering in the garden.Still haven't found the source of this pollen but it is coming in by the bucket load. Far too much for dahlias!
I also noticed it today at couple of my hives. Also no idea where it’s from so I’ll definitely be watching this thread...Still haven't found the source of this pollen but it is coming in by the bucket load. Far too much for dahlias!
There is no way this is a garden flower. I have five hives with every other bee bringing it in. It has to be a field weed or a cropI also noticed it today at couple of my hives. Also no idea where it’s from so I’ll definitely be watching this thread...
No gorse here at all. Plenty of field maize, oh how I wish it gave nectar!!!Got the same here Eric, too orange for gorse, too dark for dahlia. Pointed it out to my landlord on Wednesday, this and balsam coming in by the bucketful.
Among garden flowers could be Helenium, Marigold or Nasturtium; wildflowers could be last of the Ox-eye daisy, St john's wort, Yarrow, or if slightly darker mustard / orange colour, GoldenrodStill haven't found the source of this pollen but it is coming in by the bucket load. Far too much for dahlias!
Just found this.....Still haven't found the source of this pollen but it is coming in by the bucket load. Far too much for dahlias!
Ah! We have a row of poplars not too far away! I will go look at them tomorrow!Just found this.....
But more surprising is a spectacular luminous orange pollen seen towards the end of August and early September.
A suggestion is that the bees could be collecting this from Poplar leaf rust fungus (Melampsora larici-populina)
In a short article by W. H. Lang. written in 1901 observations on how honey bees use rust fungus as a pollen substitute are described.
It is unlikely to be a single traceable pollen, most likely it is a mix and just happens to be that colour. Pollens are a fascinating subject. The best money you will spend will be on a microscope and kit then take the BBKA microscopy exam, be careful....... its addictiveStill haven't found the source of this pollen but it is coming in by the bucket load. Far too much for dahlias!
That's yellow pollen, my bees have been collecting that but I think it's finished for the year now, was surprised to see a few bees take nectar from the flowers this yearI was wondering about field scabious or yarrow then I thought – what colour is Montbretia X Crocosmia pollen? Loads of it about all over the place.
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