Honeybee Collecting Pollen

Pollination refers to the transfer of pollen from flower to flower which certain plants rely on to reproduce. Some crops such as corn are wind-pollinated but, an estimated one third of the food humans consume relies on pollinating insects These foods include top fruits, berries and many vegetable crops.

As Honeybees Pollinate They Attract Pollen Granules on Their Body

Honeybees Groom Themselves & Push the Pollen on Their Bodies into Pollen Baskets on Their Rear Legs

Plant growth and reproduction has several limiting factors such as water and nutrient availability, but pollination also plays a vital role. Pollination can limit the quality, quantity or even entirely deny a crop yield. For instance a poorly pollinated watermelon will not become sweet, and pollination failure in apples will cause blossoms and un-ripened fruits to drop and any fruits reaching maturity will be smaller, misshapen and contain fewer seeds. Some vegetables such as brassicas may produce a crop but, without pollination, would be unable to produce fertile seeds for the next generation. Pollinating insects are also responsible for cotton yields, and anyone who remembers the nylon era will fully comprehend the desirability of this crop.
Other food production is indirectly affected by insect pollination. Cattle rely on high protein crops such as alfalfa, clover and legumes for about a third of their diet. Wind pollinated crops such as grasses do not contain sufficient protein to sustain healthy productive herds. Therefore our beef and dairy production is greatly influenced.
Although not the only pollinating insect, bees are responsible for pollinating up to 80% of flowering crops. The honey bee is available for pollination duties in great numbers early in the season unlike other insects which do not overwinter in bulk. Honeybees are estimated to contribute £165 million to the UK economy through pollination alone each year (ADAS report for DEFRA 2001). This equates to a generous £600 donation per hive.

Pollen is Collected by Honeybees to Feed Their Young

Most flowering plants would not survive without pollinating insects and even a decline in numbers would greatly affect crop yields, hitting farmer’s profits and consequently market prices.
What makes honey bees good pollinators is that they are systematic and will focus upon a single crop/plant variety and if good quantity and quality recruit more foragers to that nectar source.

3.6 able to name the main local flora from which honeybees gather pollen and nectar.

Surrey bees have a wide variety of plants from which to gather nectar and pollen, found in a variety of places such as gardens, hedgerows and farms. The following table shows the main plants they use, the months they are available and what they offer to the bees.

Natural Sources of Pollen & Nectar in Surrey

Pollen
Pollen is the main source of food for the developing brood. It is the source of protein, vitamins and trace elements which is stored around the brood.
Expansion of the colony depends upon the availability of an adequate supply of nectar, but possibly even more so on the availability of pollen.
A rapid spring expansion of the colony requires a continuous supply of early spring pollen, without it bees cannot rear brood. So it is a very welcomed sight to the beekeeper to see bees bringing in this colourful ingredient.
Pollen is collected by the pollen foragers. Particles attach themselves to the bee, which it scrapes together into “pollen baskets” on the back legs. The colour can vary from a bright orange to yellow according to the flower (there are also reds, greens, greys & blues). A bye-product of this process is the pollination of crops and fruit trees etc.

Water
Water is needed to dilute honey so that it can be used in the colony, but the cells are not capped until the water content is less than 20%, otherwise the honey ferments in the comb.
Water is also used to cool the hive in very high temperatures. Tiny droplets are fan around the hive by the bees.
Water is also used to maintain the humidity within the hive at 40-50%.
70% of initial worker brood food is water.

Propolis
Propolis is a hard resinous substance that bees use to “glue” the hive together i.e. small holes, joints and gaps etc. Bees also use it to varnish and so sanitize & strengthen the wax comb. This “glue” is obtained by the bees from flower buds in the same manner as when the bee collects pollen. It is also believed to have healing properties as consequently is used in alternative medicines. Propolis uses in the hive:

• Fills holes and gaps
• Strengthen base of comb where it attaches to hive frames
• Mummify dead creatures too big to be removed from hive
• Polish cells before queen lays in them… it is antiseptic