tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2957508894479326242.post4961115122364025064..comments2024-03-18T08:00:23.083+00:00Comments on TrogTrogBlog: Ghost beestrogtrogbloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12393331921469572350noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2957508894479326242.post-53794049297099770012021-08-10T18:17:32.488+01:002021-08-10T18:17:32.488+01:00Brilliant blog... Thank you so much. I've jus...Brilliant blog... Thank you so much. I've just rushed back from my apiary as one of my hives has loads of the bees returning with this distinct marking all over them. I went into panic mode. Photographed them, video'd them and came straight back to google and here is your wonderful blog! I thought they had some sort of unknown disease. I've been a beekeeper for 12 years now and never seen this. Phew... is all I can say. As long as it's not hurting them. Thank you again.MD THE QUEEN BEEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02573995483575043682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2957508894479326242.post-14616993608422255142015-09-28T11:54:34.340+01:002015-09-28T11:54:34.340+01:00I have read that it tastes like toffee but I have ...I have read that it tastes like toffee but I have never tasted it. I think it is rarely offered or produced as it comes so late in the season, when we are more concerned about the bees being well stocked for the winter rather than thinking of a honey crop.trogtrogbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12393331921469572350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2957508894479326242.post-34910513448439937152015-09-28T11:53:18.282+01:002015-09-28T11:53:18.282+01:00I am pretty sure they do. Honey bees certainly co...I am pretty sure they do. Honey bees certainly collect pollen from a few flowers at a time from the many dozens or hundreds available so they are selective. I can't find anything about the nutritional content of balsam pollen. I did find useful reviews at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in868 and https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/downloads/05-054. The latter is from Australia but has a lot of info on pollen composition from the bees' point of view.trogtrogbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12393331921469572350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2957508894479326242.post-33142174453652843132015-09-28T06:24:10.692+01:002015-09-28T06:24:10.692+01:00Interesting observations. I wonder if the pollen i...Interesting observations. I wonder if the pollen is low in protein. It's been shown that bumbles can detect and avoid collecting a low-protein pollen, so perhaps honey bees may have the same ability.Emily beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01788942514983700305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2957508894479326242.post-3946980460202728302015-09-21T18:48:52.299+01:002015-09-21T18:48:52.299+01:00Fascinating post about the Himalayan balsam. I won...Fascinating post about the Himalayan balsam. I wonder what the honey is like. Our native jewel weed is much appreciated by out bees here. Fabulous photos, Christopher!Out To Pasturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17949493910996476623noreply@blogger.com