APIS Volume 3, Number 11, November 1985

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APIS

 · 1 year ago

In this issue

• More on Pollen Trapping--see August 84 APIS

MORE ON POLLEN TRAPPING

One of the highlights of the Texas Beekeepers Association Meeting was a presentation by Dr. Bernard B. Vaissiere, Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University on efficient pollen trapping and recommendations for pollen collection. He tested various pollen traps over a period of time, and recommends a bottom mounted trap patterned after the O.A.C. (Ontario Agricultural College) variety. His experience shows that good trap design should include the following elements:

1. Simplicity of trap construction
2. Size of collecting tray
3. Ease of installation
4. Ease of colony manipulation while trap is on
5. Maximum ventilation possible
6. Minimum of colony disturbance during trapping
7. Protection of pollen from weather
8. Cleanliness of pollen collected

Of special significance are drone exit holes, considered absolutely critical for efficient trap operation. In addition, Dr. Vaissiere says the space separating the two layers of 5-mesh screen must never be less than one quarter inch and not more than five sixteenths of an inch. In addition, the presence of "bee lifts" (vertical boards set above the bottom 7-mesh screen) is of utmost importance to help distribute to pollen over the tray's surface as it falls from foragers' legs. He also suggests a metal slide be used to help the tray slide easily.

There are several reasons beekeepers might trap pollen, according to Dr. Vaissiere. The most obvious is a a protein source for bees. Supplementary feeding is desireable for brood rearing and absolutely essential if colonies are expected to produce drones. Trapping can protect colonies from pesticide poisoning if contaminated pollen is suspect. In addition, pollinating efficiency of bee colonies on crops often increases when traps are used and pollution monitoring is also possible by analyzing pollen collected downwind from smelters or other smoke stack industries.

Collecting pollen for human consumption, of course, is also a goal for some persons. But beekeepers should be careful, Dr. Vaissiere said, because potential allergy by the consumer is always a real possibility. Those considering ingesting pollen should be warned to begin only with very small amounts to see if allergic symptoms (swollen or inflamed throat, nausea, vomiting) appear.

Based on his experiences, Dr. Vaissiere provided certain recommendations for the beekeeper interested in collecting pollen:

1. Colonies with medium sized populations appear to be more efficient than larger of smaller colonies
2. Collecting improves when unsealed brood is present
3. Continuous trapping is more efficient than removing traps periodically
4. Synchronizing trapping with large pollen flows improves production
5. Nectar flows may cause pollen foraging to almost cease
6. Only healthy colonies should be used to collect pollen for human consumption
7. Never collect pollen for human consumption when pesticides are being applied in an area
8. Most traps have little long-term effect on brood production, but do affect honey production

In addition, Dr. Vaissiere discussed his ideas on processing and storing bee collected pollen:

1. Molds grow readily in pollen and so the product must be collected frequently, depending on prevailing moisture conditions.
2. Collected pollen should be packed in lots of about twenty pounds only; stacking bags of pollen on top of each other and thereby compressing the product must also be avoided.
3. Pollen can be frozen in plastic bags to destroy wax moth eggs that are always present in products collected from a bee colony.
4. The product should be air dried at 110 F or less to preserve as much of the food value as possible; it should also be cleaned using a seed winnower.
5. Both a wire brush and bee brush should be used to carefully clean the tray after each collection to prevent old product being mixed in with the new.

There remains controversy about pollen collecting from bee colonies. Some of the above statements, especially concerning effect of continuous trapping on a colony, are not in agreement with those by other authorities. Furthermore, the issue of human consumption and pollen standards remains. See August 1984 APIS.

Sincerely,

Malcolm T. Sanford
Bldg 970, Box 110620
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Phone (352) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: (352)-392-0190
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm
INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
©1985 M.T. Sanford "All Rights Reserved