What is it.....?

[Iainwilk01]

I've just been watching the bees returning to the hive and quite a few have pollen sacks full of something black! Any idea what it is?!

 

[snelgrove]

Poppy

 

[Iainwilk01]

Cool, thanks

 

[snelgrove]

Cool, thanks

Are they flowering in your area, few weeks off here.

 

[Chrisfnvs]

The main fields of opium poppy's are a few weeks off still but there are plenty of self seeded poppy`s around in the margins here in the the south, so plenty of black pollen coming in and has been for the last week.

 

[Charlieanne]

Lots of poppy out on the river banks where I walk the dogs here in South Lincs - have been about for over a week and some already have immature seed heads on

 

[Iainwilk01]

I've seen the odd self seeded ones by the side of the road but not loads. Don't live far from railway line so may be loads along there. Plenty of them bringing it in so must be loads somewhere.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have loads of those big poppies in the garden
The pollen is so copious it fills the flower heads with black powder. Only ever see Bumbles on it.

 

[dpearce4]

Have a look here if you want to have a basic pollen guide

http://www.bristolbeekeepers.org.uk/#

or here for 2 more

http://www.kentbee.com/stw/articles/pollen-colour-guide.shtml

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I've been enjoying bumbles buried among the stamens the last few days. Seems like poppies are a great resource for them.

 

[bontbee]

I have the red, very large flowered poppies and the honey bees seem to love them. I was watching five of them trying to get out of one flower - the petals tend to be incurved when the flower first opens and they seem to be very smooth and shiny. It's a bit like watching a fly trying to escape a pitcher plant!