Nectar Percentage Question

[Robert Hicks]

Of what percentage of workers returning with no pollen in their baskets, come with nectar instead?

[honeyman46408]

Watch the front of a hive, some days there will bee more bringing pollen than others so who knows mabee need or supply??

[Robert Hicks]

I'll restate.

Excluding workers with pollen on their baskets.

What percentage of the remaining bees (those with no pollen), carry nectar?

[Chef Isaac]

Robert:

This question os tough to answer. It all depends on colony need. Sometimes they need more pollen.... sometimes they need more nectar. It all depends on time of year too...

[George Fergusson]

It's going to vary, isn't it? On the time of year, what their needs are at the time, and whether there's a flow on? If there is a flow on, most of them will be hauling nectar. Some will be hauling water to cool the hive. If there's no flow on, more will be carrying water because they'll need it to both cool the hive and thin out honey to feed brood. Here in Maine in the early spring, they're not hauling any nectar to speak of, because there isn't much- they're hauling almost entirely pollen and water. At any given time, a lot of bees will be carrying split loads- both nectar and pollen. I don't know what that does to your numbers

So the number (or ratio) of pollen foragers to nectar foragers is going to vary consideraby over time. I haven't even mentioned bees gathering propolis or scouts searching for a new home

[MountainCamp]

The answer to your question is not a set in stone number.
The number of bees coming back to the hive without pollen that are carrying nectar will depend on a number of factors. Such as:
Is there a nectar flow on and how strong.
What is the water requirement of the hive at this time. Are they only using water to dilute honey, or is it hot and they are using it for cooling the hive.

Under conditions that water is only being used to dilute honey, the vast majority of returning workers without pollen while there is a flow on have nectar.

When the temperature soars and water is also needed for cooling the hive, more foragers will be carrying water, but the majority will again still be carry nectar.

You can check the water sources around your yard. With thousands and thousands of bees foraging, the number collecting water is in the tens to hundreds.