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I went out and checked my hives today since it is 60 degrees here in central Illinois. The bees are very active with the nice weather. I noticed some were collecting pollen and was a little surprised. Where would they be getting it from and is there a reason they are collecting? Some was dark orange and some was a dark red. Great day to be outside in January!
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Most likely its not pollen but things like birdfeed dust.
hmm...That sounds like a better answer, but I don't have any bird feeders and fairly confident my neighbors don't have them either??
I was in my yard today and yesterday. I'm in Central Tennessee. My bees are also bringing something back to their hives, mostly a light yellow color and some is a little darker. I'm not sure what it would be, nothing seems to be blooming here.
Remember they will forage up to 3 miles away (usually less, though).
Hi ckannmacher, I'm 5 miles from you over here in Casey. Mine were bringing in a little pollen today too. I have a few dandelions in sheltered areas and saw bees on them today. They not getting much but better than totally wasted trip I guess.
I have seen plenty of yellow and white pollen coming in south carolina, noticed dandalion and mustard in bloom, maybe which hazel too?
Ah, found it, Mahonia ‘Winter Sun'. They were all over that thing in my neighbor's yard. The flowers are pale yellow, too.
Witch Hazel, willows, and some of the other catkin bearing shrubs and trees produce pollen at cooler temperatures than most other trees. Some of these produce pollen when there is snow on the ground. I've seen pollen coming in in January these last few years when it has been warm.
Deadnettle and henbit have dark red to purple pollen, dandelion is bright orange, pine is yellow, don't know what the white is.
We have had henbit in bloom for a couple months, the bees were on it the Sunday before Xmas day and today (and surely yesterday, which was even nicer here).
I suspect they will be inside for the next few weeks, bit cold front on the way with freezing rain and general yuck.
Nice that they got to get out and do some collecting though.
Peter
I have tons of Mahonia on my property. I currently own no bees. My property was buzzing with TONS of bees today on all the Mahonia I have here. I live in Alcoa, TN (outside of Knoxville) so that may be what some of you are seeing brought in.
Cheers,
Luke Newman
Noticed a greyish/green pollen coming in on the 9th. One of the first plants to bloom around here,( southern Maryland) is Skunk cabbage) I've seen it produce various hues of pollen. Look in wet areas along creeks and southern exposures and I'd bet you can find it. It is a bulbous looking thing. Most of the ones I find are a deep ruby color. A hut with a ball of pollen in it. No leaves. Google search for better description. :) I've seen them bring in bird feed dust as well. Looking for protein.
Rick
my bees are bringing in a yellow pollen this week
Yea... same here.... lots of it. I understand it is mustard.
Southern exposure on houses can heat up the ground in front of it and the weeds will bloom. (They do at my house) Dandelion, mustards, chick weed, and mints. Multiply that by 1.5 miles in a populated area and that can be a good source for this time of year.
Rick
Hehe quite an interesting discovery!
Here in Richmond Va. ,winter blooming camellias are a good source of early pollen.
Looks like bird feeder dust got left in the ( )
Don't forget about the juniper/cedars. They are putting off pollen this time of year also depending on your location. You can go to www.pollen.com and put your zipcode in and it will tell you what might be blooming in your area.
Snowdrops will bloom on those warm winter days and produce an orange to red pollen.