Pollen identification

**gavin** · 18-05-2014, 08:01 AM

I suspect that the orange Kitta photographed is broom. See this video for the typical pattern bees get from 'tripping' the flowers of broom.

**Mellifera Crofter** · 18-05-2014, 09:56 AM

Thanks Gavin - it's a nice little video. I've often watched my bees on the gorse bushes, HJB, and never saw them covered like this. Now I'll carefully watch the brooms as well.
Kitta

**gavin** · 18-05-2014, 10:26 AM

The video shows well how the bees get the pattern you often see on its back. First it sits on an untripped flower, and scrabbles on the keel petal (the lower one) where the pollen is already being pushed out. Most pea family flowers are like this, with pollen being pushed out of the end of the keel petal when an insect exerts downward pressure on it. The anthers are inside and a slight pushing down motion pushes them up inside and sometimes even pipes pollen out as if it was in one of those bags cooks use to squeeze out decorative goo on baking. Then the flower pops open and the bee turns round and sticks its head down the way (for more pollen or nectar?). As it goes down the anthers rub its back. As it goes in from the side it gets a side rub on its back as well as an overall rub which explains the pattern you often see on the thorax of those painted bees at this time of year.

**Floyd** · 18-05-2014, 11:19 AM

I am surrounded by Gorse and have yet to see any bees forage on it. Even when there is very little else in flower. Which is mightly frustrating as it would be an excellant early and continual crop for them.

**HJBee** · 18-05-2014, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Mellifera Crofter

Thanks Gavin - it's a nice little video. I've often watched my bees on the gorse bushes, HJB, and never saw them covered like this. Now I'll carefully watch the brooms as well.
Kitta

Now we know! Makes sense the way they are covered.

**Bumble** · 18-05-2014, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by snimmo243

Hi bumble
Could the cream be sycamore?

Ah, that looks about right on this chart. Assuming Sycamore is Maple. http://www.the-beeman.co.uk/pollen-colour-17-w.asp

Thanks

**gavin** · 18-05-2014, 11:12 PM

I don't think that the Beeman's guide is based on local information, looks like he's 'imported' it from somewhere. Sycamore pollen is olive-green.

See this photo from beespoke.info - an Irish native beekeeping website.

http://beespoke.info/wp-content/uplo...reSycamore.jpg