Pollen collection

[Hivetool]

Are there any other beekeepers who collect pollen and make slides from the pollen?

I have seen a few slides of pollen grains and thought I might like to give it a go.
Is it expensive to start making a collection of pollen types?

Any advice would be received with thanks.

HT

 

[Rosti]

By the time you have invested the time and money in making up slides I would consider getting a cheap USB x400 microscope and saving your collection as JPGs. Just posted a reply on the subject of USB microscopes in the photographic section as it happens. Not sure that x400 will be enough for your purposes but I'll give it a go and post the results so you can judge for yourself. Rosti

 

[ribblesbees]

Hi Hivetool,

Yes I am, having just access to a microscope. Only got a few slides at the moment (am waiting for an order to come through). What I've seen so far is fascinating, beautiful/awesome. The only problem is I've no idea what I'm looking at, apart from pollen that is.

 

[oliver90owner]

Why? I would have thought there are documented details of most pollen types available somewhere for beekeepers and a whole library for botanists.

Identification is interesting if you want to, but usually time of year and colour tell the story in enough detail for an apiarist.

Trading standards will know where to find world wide pollen types for checking out honey origins.

You could start your collection by sampling all your garden flowers. Slides and materials are fairly cheap consumables. As Rosti says, 50 quid for a (lidl?) microscope kit, and a lot of time, store them on computer. Not sure of the quality of the Lidl for 1280 magnification, but a cheap and easy way to start.

Making a slide collection is another layer of cost and time. Your choice of hobby, so good luck with it.

Regards, RAB

 

[Rosti]

RAB mine is made by Veho x400 magnification, built in x4 LED bulbs around the lens, plugs straight to the USB, software limited, but you can use photoshop or similar to then manipulate the image, sprinkle on to blue polythene for best background contrast and zoom in! Rosti

 

[DrNick]

As ribble says, we have just started looking at pollen in this way, I got a Philip Harris microscope on ebay for £6.65 + £10 postage (an absolute steal), it is reasonably old but good quality, I have also bought an adapter so I can attach my digi camera, we can now chose between slides or digital on the PC, if you already have a camera (it doesn't need to be anything spectacular) this has to be the cheapest way to go if you are wanting to keep microscope images digitally. As for pollen reference, I have yet to find anything, a book, a guide, pictures, I think there were some very specialised books on botany at about £300 I gave those a miss let me know if anyone finds something though

 

[Hivetool]

Hi Dr Nick & ribblesbees

How are the slides coming along?

There is a publication by Rex Sawyer named the Pollen Identification for Beekeepers, have either of you purchased this? There is also a CD that depicts the pollen grains to show some degree of pollen structure.

I am considering both products, so do you have an opinion on them?

 

[ribblesbees]

Hi Hivetool,

Yes I've got that book on order, well ordered it this afternoon. Hopefully I should soon have an idea what I'm looking at.

 

[marcros]

Hi Dr Nick & ribblesbees

How are the slides coming along?

There is a publication by Rex Sawyer named the Pollen Identification for Beekeepers, have either of you purchased this? There is also a CD that depicts the pollen grains to show some degree of pollen structure.

I am considering both products, so do you have an opinion on them?

The CD is very useful. It replaces the punch cards that were in the original version of the book.

 

[DrNick]

Thanks Hivetool & marcros,

We are certainly looking at getting the CD as we would like to know what we are looking for/at

 

[Hivemaker.]

Hi Mo
is this another one of your silly games,will you be deleting all your posts again as well,and messing up the threads.Being as you are an expert at making pollen slides,why the silly questions.

 

[Bcrazy]

I see my reply has been deleted. Not to worry.

Regards;