Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: NJClydeDriver on August 24, 2011, 08:40:16 pm

Title: Black Pollen?
Post by: NJClydeDriver on August 24, 2011, 08:40:16 pm

 :? I live in North Jersey and during an inspection today, found assorted pockets of black pollen about 1/4 full in cells.  It is next to other regular yellow pollen that is also about 1/4-1/3 full.  There in non that is compleatly full in a cell that is black so I wonder what might be giving off this color or is something happening in the hive itself... I scraped a cell thinking it wasnt pollen but for the life of me it looks like it is a very dark/black pollen.  Any Ideas?  I saw Mr Bush did say there is pollen that dark...Any other Northern climate beeks that have a guess?
Thanks,
John     

Title: Re: Black Pollen?
Post by: yockey5 on August 24, 2011, 09:13:51 pm

I have seen in my hive a lot of pollen and many different colors ranging from black to reds, orange, yellows, grey, etc. Nothing to worry over.

Title: Re: Black Pollen?
Post by: NJClydeDriver on August 24, 2011, 11:03:03 pm

cool...had me a little worried and thinkin something went wrong because we always see the oranges and reds and yellows that are popular, thanks for the reply yockey

Title: Re: Black Pollen?
Post by: Lone on August 24, 2011, 11:13:52 pm

Hello NJClydeDriver,

This is an interesting reference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source)

Lone

Title: Re: Black Pollen?
Post by: Michael Bush on August 25, 2011, 12:10:06 am

I've seen some ornamental flowers with black pollen.  Can't remember if they were tulips, poppies or what...

Title: Re: Black Pollen?
Post by: SerenaSYH on August 26, 2011, 03:54:15 am

Whoo-hoo! some more new ultimate coolness of honeybee facts I am learning! Thanks folks!!!!