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Title: Bees coated with pollen
Post by: nella on September 02, 2011, 05:06:22 PM

Some of the bees are returning to the hive coated with a light gray pollen. Dose anyone know what plant the pollen is from? From a distance they looked like moths going in the hive! Left click on picture to enlarge it.

(http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4131/img2422q.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/269/img2422q.jpg/)

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Title: Re: Bees coated with pollen
Post by: L Daxon on September 02, 2011, 09:48:07 PM

Are you sure that is pollen? Looks like one of my bees after a powdered sugar shake.

Title: Re: Bees coated with pollen
Post by: lenape13 on September 02, 2011, 10:16:55 PM

It could be someone's attempt at beelining.

Title: Re: Bees coated with pollen
Post by: nella on September 03, 2011, 07:29:02 AM

I have two hives and about 1/4 of the bees in both hives were coming back with the coating on them about 2pm. I will watch today and see what happens.

Title: Re: Bees coated with pollen
Post by: Michael Bach on September 05, 2011, 07:09:46 PM

More than likely it is jewel weed. The bees go deep into the flower looking for nectar and brush past the stamen.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/128687/ (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/128687/)

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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: nella on September 02, 2011, 05:06:22 PM