Pollen identification?

[BeeJayBee]

Are the Pollen Cards for sale on Amazon a good buy, or is there a better quick reference?

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pollen-Identification-Cards-William-D-J/dp/0860982637[/ame]

 

[Ruary]

IBRA have the cards at £4-00, however if the amazon one is old stock the colours might have faded.
The cards will only give an indication of what the bees might have been foraging on.

Kirk's book gives more detailed instructions on how to compare colours including the need to avoid colour cats from nearby objects.
Ruary

 

[Erichalfbee]

Kirk's book gives more detailed instructions on how to compare colours including the need to avoid colour cats from nearby objects.
Ruary

Yes, I have this one

 

[alanf]

how to compare colours including the need to avoid colour cats from nearby objects.

Tabby pollen, that's something I would like to see.

Seriously, since the Christmas book list seems to have been ignored, is the Kirk book/card set the one to go for?

 

[BeeJayBee]

The cards will only give an indication of what the bees might have been foraging on.

That's what I was looking for, a quick reference that could easily be carried.

Would the colours fade if the card is laminated?

 

[Ruary]

That's what I was looking for, a quick reference that could easily be carried.

Would the colours fade if the card is laminated?

Yes, exposure to light would do it as well as other agents.
By the way I have seen cards which give widely differing colours for each plant. Kirks book gives a range of three as does Dorothy Hodges one. The cards if I remember give one.
Ruary

 

[Poly Hive]

I ain't seen a set yet that is anywhere near right, the simple reason being the printing process.

PH

 

[MandF]

Hopefully not hijacking the thread - does anyone know of a good reference for identifying pollen under a microscope (normal, not electron)?

I have kept samples of my batches of honey to identify the pollens, now have the microscope - all I need is a good reference.

Thx

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Pollen identification for Beekeepers by Res Sawyer is probably the best book to start with as it has loads of pictures (these are also available on CD) BUT it is by no means 'complete'. There are just too many pollens for that.

 

[luckydunny]

I brought one from F.P. It cost me £1.99 and £0.50 postage. As PH says not an exact match but very useful to carry around hives for quick reference.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Pollen identification for Beekeepers by Res Sawyer is probably the best book to start with as it has loads of pictures (these are also available on CD) BUT it is by no means 'complete'. There are just too many pollens for that.

That should be Pollen identification for Beekeepers by Rex Sawyer

 

[BeeJayBee]

Pollen identification for Beekeepers by Res Sawyer is probably the best book to start with as it has loads of pictures (these are also available on CD) BUT it is by no means 'complete'. There are just too many pollens for that.

That should be Pollen identification for Beekeepers by Rex Sawyer

Didn't know about that one. Thanks.