Red Pollen

GSF · December 25, 2014, 08:36:32 PM

We had a cold spell for a little while but lately it's been more like early spring. Today I reduced a hive down to enough for one bee to get through. I wasn't sure if they were being robbed or were just out and about. When I moved the rag I saw where a bee had lost some red pollen trying to squeeze through.

I check a maple tree out and it did have buds.

asprince · December 25, 2014, 08:43:42 PM

Henbit?

Steve

tsmullins · December 25, 2014, 11:03:52 PM

Like Steve said, it could be henbit. Deadnettle also has red pollen.

Shane

10framer · December 26, 2014, 12:22:19 PM

i'm not sure but i usually see it around mid january. if winter stays mild and the rain comes when it should through april or may we could have a good year in 2015. i have seen some henbit up but not blooming yet. i just fed for the first time yesterday and it's going to be swarm season before you know it.

sterling · December 26, 2014, 09:38:13 PM

Quote from: 10framer on December 26, 2014, 12:22:19 PM
i'm not sure but i usually see it around mid january. if winter stays mild and the rain comes when it should through april or may we could have a good year in 2015. i have seen some henbit up but not blooming yet. i just fed for the first time yesterday and it's going to be swarm season before you know it.

swarm season? squirrel season still open for two more months:catchchick:

GSF · December 27, 2014, 06:12:47 AM

We do have henbit blooming. Sunday it's supposed to be 71. Guess I'll put off my construction & destruction for a day and look in a couple of hives. Rain in the forecast that day.

10framer · December 27, 2014, 03:39:36 PM

swarms will probably start in march or april. that is the blink of an eye in my world.
i'm finally about to try to put the dogs in the woods some. deer season is almost over and that's when i'll get serious.

10framer · December 27, 2014, 10:24:02 PM

sterling, i didn't pull frames but i had a few hives that had clusters that filled two deeps and the fringes were into a medium on a couple. i'm betting those hives still have a good bit of brood in them.
if it stays mild and clover takes off early this year i would expect to see swarm cells as early as the first week in march. as cold as it was all the way into april this year i had swarm cells around mid march in a couple of hives.
another thing that surprised me was the amount of honey some hives still had in them. some seem heavier than they did in october when the goldenrod was playing out.

jalentour · December 27, 2014, 10:54:11 PM

I have found this link useful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source