Are they... wearing gloves?!
It looks like they have little gloves on? What are those? Thanks!
Syndicated from the fediverse. Read and engage on the original instance.
View original on sopuli.xyzSyndicated from the fediverse. Read and engage on the original instance.
View original on sopuli.xyzIt looks like they have little gloves on? What are those? Thanks!
4 replies
Looks like pollen.
It certainly is. They have special fur on hind legs for pollen collection and know to scrape it off in the nest. Also it's multicolored. In my opinion, pollen storage is tastier than honey, and is in surplus - they only use it in Summer and have plenty in early Spring, so taking it out frees space for honey. Other beekeepers just discard it, so I just can eat it until I'm sick.
All the bees I saw on this bush had them.
The bees glue the pollen together with a little nectar, and build the pollen pellets around long hairs on their hind legs.
The pollen pellets are very secure, and need to be to stay attached on the bees' flight home.
Honeybees bringing in pollen are a sign of an active hive, because the proteins and fats in pollen are needed to feed larvae.