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Author Topic: Current pollen colors - and flavors  (Read 1996 times)

Offline tjc1

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Current pollen colors - and flavors
« on: July 04, 2013, 12:36:30 am »
Here is the pollen I collected today (for a Harvard study of local pesticide exposure). When I was done there were a few packets of pollen on the table so I decided to taste one - I was surprised by the intensely sweet taste on the tip of my tongue (some also had some bitterness), but was even more surprised when I had my sister-in-law try some - and she tasted no sweetness at all... :?





Offline sc-bee

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2013, 01:47:43 am »
Neat Pic!
John 3:16

Offline JPinMO

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #2 on: July 04, 2013, 01:52:01 am »
Very cool. I wonder what plant(s) produce purple pollen. I only notice the brown or yellow/orange in our hives.
"Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters
cannot be trusted in large ones either."  Albert Einstein

Offline Better.to.Bee.than.not

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2013, 02:15:40 am »
not much reason for pollen to taste sweet really. it is not nectar. well, not as in sweet like honey anyways, which is concentrated/etc. They do have pollen for eating, though.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2013, 09:49:43 am »
The bees add a little bit of nectar to make it stick together and stay on there legs.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline tjc1

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2013, 07:15:16 pm »
The bees add a little bit of nectar to make it stick together and stay on there legs.
Jim


Aha! I wondered how they got it to stick together so nicely while flying and foraging, and to make such firm little pellets - that makes sense!

Offline Better.to.Bee.than.not

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2013, 04:59:17 am »
hm. that does make sense, duh. guess there is a reason for it to taste sweet after-all.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Current pollen colors - and flavors
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2013, 05:09:01 am »
I'm pretty sure I read that, about the bees adding nectar, in "Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey Bee".
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

 

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