I was cutting some hedge, Osage Orange, and noticed bees flying around. I thought, how nice, my bees love me and are following me around the field. Then I thought maybe they are getting the sticky sap to repair their beebox seal their beekeeper messed up some months ago the last time it was warm. Then I noticed they weren't gathering the sap, but flying next to the sawdust. They even had sawdust in their pollen baskets. I have noticed no pollen being brought in yet.
A search reveals others have noticed bees in sawdust, but I never found out the answer as to why. If the bees are dumb enough to think it is pollen, what would happen if they fed their larva sawdust? I really can't believe bees are that dumb, but could not find out the answer as to what it's purpose is. While some sawdust from some sources may have something useful in it, if anyone knows about fresh cut hedge, it is very hard, and I would not think very digestible, if some sort of protein is the purpose.