Author Topic: Bee Tongues (Read 2102 times)

fcderosa · « **on:** July 21, 2006, 05:05:36 pm »

I read somewhere that the tongue length of the different races of honey bees plays in direct relationship to which flowers the bees harvest. With that in mind which honey bee has the longest tongue? :?:

ctsoth · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2006, 11:59:00 pm »

I think caucasions have the longest... If you do a search on google you should be able to find the exact toungue measurements for the different breeds...

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2006, 01:05:56 am »

Any bee that will work red clover has a long tongue--it has to in order to reach the nectar resevoir in the fluret of the flower.

Off course you can always go from hive to hive with a tongue depressor saying "Say Aah." :)

Finsky · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2006, 02:17:02 am »

Quote from: Brian D. Bray

Any bee that will work red clover has a long tongue--)

On good weather the level of nectar rises so high in flower tube that no bee has difficulties to take a good load. It needs moist soil and over 25C warm during one week. It happens here seldom. The taste of red clover honey is quite weak.