[Monie]

Today, while inspecting, I noticed a few of the girls had deep blue pollen in their baskets. What plant do you think this comes from?

 

[Kurt S]

I've been wondering that since last year! I saw a little last year. This year I see a lot. They are bring in lots of pollen and probably 1/4 -1/3 is blue (packs almost black in the cells), with the rest being bright yellow, orange, or pale yellow. Very little white this spring....

 

[Oldbee]

Yes, that's always quite the surprise [blue pollen]. If most pollen was that color, then the bright yellows/oranges would be the, OMG what IS that [moment]!!

In your part of the country the most familiar to beekeepers is probably Siberian squill. >> http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/Blue2.JPG >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blausternchen_2.jpg

 

[Monie]

That's it! Oldbee, you are a gem. Thank you!

 

[Parke County Queen]

Yesterday the girls were bringing in all different colors. Red, olive, orange yellow, pale yellow. I looked up the red - henbit or snowdrops. Both were in the yard the bees were in. I love watching them. Some had so much pollen they had trouble flying.

 

[BEES4U]

Today, while inspecting, I noticed a few of the girls had deep blue pollen in their baskets. What plant do you think this comes from?

I have some pollen traps on, Sundance 11, and the bees are collecting a cobalt blue pollen from lupines.
Ernie

 

[Monie]

Thanks Ernie!

To my knowledge, lupines aren't native to Indiana. I could be wrong though. The few lupines that I have seen are planted in flower beds. I have lupines in mine, and they're still about a month out.

 

[Kurt S]

Thanks! Scilla is the likely culprit. But I just saw some of the first scilla blooming the last few days and they've been bring it back for weeks. I wonder if there's spots with more exposure where the scilla was blooming earlier or if there's another source....

Nice wiki page, thanks for the link!