Do bees get nectar and pollen from the same plant and trees or can they only get pollen from some and not nectar ? The reason I ask is, as long as I see them bring in pollen,can I assume they are still gathering nectar also ?
No, you can't assume that at all. In middle TN this year there was very little nectar after July 1, but tons of pollen. I can still see some pollen coming in today - October 19. Still lots of drones flying by the way.
Quote from: David LaFerney on October 19, 2009, 10:14:38 PM
No, you can't assume that at all. In middle TN this year there was very little nectar after July 1, but tons of pollen. I can still see some pollen coming in today - October 19. Still lots of drones flying by the way.
I figured where there are plants blooming,there is pollen and where there is pollen there is nectar ? You don't think they just gather what they think they are going to need , Like gathering pollen later then nectar for the spring brood ?
Quote from: Joelel on October 19, 2009, 10:29:15 PM
Quote from: David LaFerney on October 19, 2009, 10:14:38 PM
No, you can't assume that at all. In middle TN this year there was very little nectar after July 1, but tons of pollen. I can still see some pollen coming in today - October 19. Still lots of drones flying by the way.
I figured where there are plants blooming,there is pollen and where there is pollen there is nectar ? You don't think they just gather what they think they are going to need , Like gathering pollen later then nectar for the spring brood ?
I don't think so. I've fed my bees quite a lot of sugar this fall to fatten the hives. They
needed nectar. It just wasn't there.
Short answer is 'yes and no'.
Some plants are strong pollen sources, but not nectar producers. Some produce both. Some are strong nectar sources, but have little pollen or the pollen is unpalatable and unattractive to the bees.
The following doc gives a good example of the mix of pollen/nectar availability in Ohio.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2168.html
Quote from: deejaycee on October 20, 2009, 07:02:40 PM
Short answer is 'yes and no'.
Some plants are strong pollen sources, but not nectar producers. Some produce both. Some are strong nectar sources, but have little pollen or the pollen is unpalatable and unattractive to the bees.
The following doc gives a good example of the mix of pollen/nectar availability in Ohio.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2168.html
So,according to that many more give both or just nectar then just pollen. Thanks a bunch.
They will gather corn pollen in a dearth and it makes no nectar, so many plants that make pollen will get worked for pollen even if they don't have nectar. But if there is one with nectar and pollen, the bees will prefer that.