I notice this last year when I first got my bees and am noticing it now. I have began to find something that looks like the anther/filament/stamen (small stems from inside the flower) of magnolia blooms in the oil pan. Last year I found them on the land board where they drug them out of the hive.
I've seen them working the magnolia but for the life of me I can't figure out why bring part of the flower back to the hive. Propolis maybe? Any thoughts?
:?
How do they bring it back? How big is it?
The only time I have ever seen bees carry anything is when they carry bees/larvae out of the hive. I have seen them carry a bee 50' and drop it in my pool.
Is there a Magnolia tree over top of your hive?
Is it possible it is getting into your hives during inspections?
Jim
My magnolia trees are too far from the hives. The stems are about a half inch long or less. I hadn't been in the hives when I found them. I looked real close and it wasn't SHB larva or any thing.
Gary,
Pictures please. I have a magnolia right next door and have never noticed any debris.
I have seen bees carry the small, trumpet shaped flowers of the Purple Dead Nettle back to the hive. I think they do so to give the other workers the scent of the plant.
Ray,
If you look at a bloom you'll see the stems with maybe a red looking head. It's like the last half inch was cut and brought in. I'll keep my eyes open to see if I see any more in the hives/trays.
BUSTED! I saw a bee bringing in one of those stems this afternoon. I'm fairly sure it's a stem from a magnolia bloom. I was under the impression that they didn't bring stuff like that into the hive. If it is from a magnolia bloom they would have had to cut it down to size. What I saw was about the length of my bee, what's on the tree is more like an inch and a half to two inches.
Gary,
Any chance of getting some pictures of this. Your report is the only one I have ever heard of a bee bringing in anything other than water, nectar, propolis and pollen.
Jim
I'm going in that hive in the next day or so. If I see any on the bottom board I'll snap a shot.