Where does fed pollen patty

wind up in the hive?

Randy Oliver
Presented to Calif State Beekeepers Assoc.
2013
First determine any toxicity
Then test for palatability,
and feed fluorescent-
tagged pollen sub to
colonies.
 Inspect every frame for
traces of fluorescence,
using a blackout tent and
blacklight.

Also inspect under

screened bottom board at
night for any discarded.
 Initial findings:
1. No patty stored in combs
2. No patty fed directly to larvae
3. Little patty wasted
Take samples of 50 bees
from every comb.
105 samples
5250 bees to crush!
Build the “Crush-a-Bee”
Crush the thawed bees
with a heavy brass roller.
Visible
light
 UV light

Count the proportion of bees with glowing gut contents.

Hive #1 % Bees
15.5 16 14 18 25 9 26 18 17 with
H H HP HPB HPB HPB HPB HP H color
(25+)

Approx 50%+
brood
(19-24)
area
37-48%

PATTY
(13-18)

19 15 8 17 12 12 15 14 12.5 13.5 25-36%

H H H HPB HPB HPB HPB HP H H
(7-12)

14-24%

(0-6)

<12%
Seeley, The Wisdom of the Hive
Seeley, The Wisdom of the Hive
Question:
Which age bees
are eating it?
Collect 10 bees
from brood and
honey frames
Glowing guts from every Question:
comb. Which age bees
are eating it?
 Surprise: every bee in
November had a gut full
of pollen!
 Marked emerging bees the
next year. Found that bees
going into winter packed their
guts full of offered pollen sub.