Factors affecting pollen harvesting by the honeybee.
Abstract
The contents of pollen traps on two hives in Midlothian, Scotland, were analysed for 3 seasons, and in the 4th season the study was extended to 4 hives. Different colonies were used in each season. It was found that: the amount of pollen trapped was affected more by colony size than by weather, site or time of year; collection patterns were similar each year; pollen was collected from mid-May to mid-September, and particularly in the first half of that period; the mean number of pollen species per colony was 14; few pollen types were trapped in large quantities, with only 6 types representing 85% of the total collected; relative amounts of different types varied with site and with colony preferences; relatively more pollen was collected from plants in mixed woods than from other habitats, especially from Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Rubus spp. and Chamaenerion angustifolium; on arable land various Cruciferae, and in pasture Trifolium repens and Ranunculus spp., were important. Author