BBKA Forum

British Beekeepers Association Official Forum 

  • White pollen in January in Yorkshire - what is it?

  • This discussion forum covers pollen, honeybee anatomy & biology.
This discussion forum covers pollen, honeybee anatomy & biology.
 #1775  by Chrisbarlow
 27 Jan 2019, 12:12
A mates bees are bringing in white pollen at the mo, despite googling, still no clue on what it might be? Any suggestions?
 #1777  by NigelP
 27 Jan 2019, 13:16
Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger has a very light coloured pollen. Might be another exotic though, depends where he lives. It's not snowdrop (red) or hazel (yellow) or Alder (greeney yellow) etc.
 #1778  by Chrisbarlow
 27 Jan 2019, 14:34
Ta Nigel. Hellabor is definately a possible. He lives north Leeds so anything is possible really. I didn't know if there was a "common plant" that was all.
 #1781  by AdamD
 27 Jan 2019, 16:09
There might be some 'green manure' fields about - such as, I believe, mustard and a winter radish. These plants hang onto the nutrients over winter and are then ploughed in, in spring.
 #5727  by lagomorphhunter
 15 Feb 2020, 20:46
My bees are bring back copious amount of white pollen at the moment here is West Suffolk, under the microscope it looks like clear droplets. Snow drops? Yew?
Images can be seen here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/82mUXG8aidLF52rE7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SHfMcJciQB534wx38
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CXobyCebDo7awBhi8
 #5728  by Patrick
 16 Feb 2020, 09:11
Hi LH and welcome to the Forum.

Great photos - loving the detail. Don’t think it’s snowdrop based on the colour but could be yew - is that in flower with you? Not with us yet but you are a good way away. It’s early if it is but nowadays traditional spring flowering seasons are all over the place.

It could just as well also be somebodies garden plant they have found however. Do you have a divisional microscopist?
 #5731  by MickBBKA
 16 Feb 2020, 14:59
lagomorphhunter wrote:
15 Feb 2020, 20:46
My bees are bring back copious amount of white pollen at the moment here is West Suffolk, under the microscope it looks like clear droplets. Snow drops? Yew?
Images can be seen here:
Can you look under greater magnification. here is Snowdrop pollen natural colour and stained with Fuchsin stain.

Image

Image

Cheers, Mick.