View Full Version : Wow - Bee's Hauling Something
Jim Ray
11-26-2009, 12:27 PM
We've had several killing frosts here in the Texas Panhandle, but today the bees are active and carrying a bright orange material in their pollen sacks. I can't imagine what plant would still be pollinating. Perhaps they are raiding a trashcan? What color is propolis?
SwedeBee1970
11-26-2009, 01:02 PM
Propolis is usually a clear brownish varnish type substance.
My bees carry the same colored pollen, orange-red to be exact. Can't say entirely what it is but may come from a red maple tree or:
Look at this interesting chart:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source
I would have to guess it was dandelion. It's the most abundant and reliable weed in the country for pollen and blooms early spring and late fall.
Brent Bean
11-26-2009, 02:10 PM
Got any cattle, horses or bird feeders close by? Honeybees will forage in the feed when nothing else is available.
Jim Ray
11-26-2009, 02:59 PM
Thanks, guys.
All that you have mentioned is possible. Besides dandelions, yes this is cattle country and there is a dairy and a feedlot not far away. A lot of people feed birds here. Are you talking about suit as food?
We're about the same zone, maybe slightly warmer, it hit 36F last night and 61F today and they are bringing in Bright-Yellow pollen. Not a lot, but regularly.:)
Brent Bean
11-26-2009, 03:23 PM
Bird feed with millet seed or cracked corn. I will see bees in my bird feeders in spring before the earliest pollen becomes available.
Randall Clark
11-26-2009, 05:00 PM
I live in North Central Oklahoma and my hive is bringing in the same colored pollen on warm days. An old time bee keeper told me that bees can collect pollen from cedar trees. No cattle or feed lots around me. Just a lot of Johnson Grass and tall weeds in a large open field, with some wooded area nearby.
Myron Denny
11-26-2009, 06:10 PM
Randy, your bees are lots more active than mine. There is lots of Golden Rod in the fields and roadsides in out area, I am guessing that is what they are gathering.
Swobee
11-27-2009, 11:47 AM
I noticed two things yesterday in our back yard hive- pollen coming in and drones. I figured with the frosts we've had over the last 6-7 weeks that nothing much could be blooming yet and the drones would have been given eviction notices. In our neighborhood, there are a lot of mums and some other late season flowers still miraculously surviving the continual assault of below freezing we've had the last several weeks. As for the drones, I saw them being kicked out in early Oct. when the first cold blasts hit us, but yesterday there were a few more than I expected.
Bodhi
11-29-2009, 07:01 PM
Look at this interesting chart:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source
Hey, that is interesting! Thanks!
I've got a few sources for Siberian Squill bookmarked for next fall.
SwedeBee1970
11-30-2009, 06:52 AM
Yes. That caught my eye too. It's got me searching the internet for bulbs. The real name is: Scilla Siberian Squill Bulbs 100/pack from esbenshade's garden center. http://www.esbenshades.com/onlineshopping/proddetail.asp?prod=000744080849
At .34 cents a bulb shipped, eBay looks expensive.