bee scraping off pollen

[olrebbie]

yesterday, as i sat in my car waiting for someone, a honeybee landed on the windshield right in my sightline. it didn't spook as i leaned in closer to see it, so i got the chance to really observe what was happening. the bee began rubbing its left hind leg burdened with pollen against the right leg, dislodging some of the pollen. it took a few steps, then began rubbing the right leg against the left, again dislodging some pollen. it repeated this process (rub, steps, rub) until both pollen sacs were empty, and then flew away. left behind was a little trail of wads of pollen. what on earth was it doing?

obviously, i am not an apiarist, just an interested bystander, and i figured the best way to get the straight goods on that bee was to come to bee people ;)

thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

[Jerrymac]

Where are you located? I have heard about bees digging out cotton pollen because it irritates them. Perhaps there are other pollens that irritate their legs also.

[Understudy]

It also could have been far from the hive and making it's load lighter.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[olrebbie]

thanks, jerrymac and brendhan, for replying. i'm in springfield, missouri. there's cotton land a couple hundred miles east of here (which would indeed be far from the hive;)), and lots of trees blooming roundabout right now (dogwood, redbud, various fruit/ornamental trees, and some hard- and soft-woods, as well as tulips, daffodils, wisteria, poppies, etc.). i had thought of irritation, because it was certainly thorough in off-loading that pollen! thanks again--rebbie

[Pond Creek Farm]

Well I am in the Springfield area myself.  Perhaps she was one of mine, they have been hauling in pollen steadily.