Betula papyrifera – Paper Birch

Botanical Family Betulaceae

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Granulate/Psilate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um)

Shape Round

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Chionodoxa luciliae – Glory of the Snow

Botanical Family Asparagaceae

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 1

Aperture Type Sulcus

Ornamentation Granulate, microreticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 36

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • •

Nectar Source • •

Phlox carolina ‘Lil Cahaba’ – Thickleaf Phlox

 

Botanical Family Polemoniaceae

Bloom Time March – May

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number <6

Aperture Type Porate

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Ulmus americana – American Elm

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 4

Aperture Type Colpus

Ornamentation Psilate/Granulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow, Green

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • •

Nectar Source •

Viburnum carlesii – Koreanspice Viburnum

Botanical Family Adoxaceae

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Reticulate/Mircoreticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 27

Shape Round

Pollen Color Tan, Green

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Jasminum nudiflorum – Winter Jasmine

 

Botanical Family Oleacea

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3 – 4

Aperture Type Colpus

Ornamentation Microreticulate

Tectum Semitectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color Dark Yellow

Honey Bee Resource

Pollen Source • •

Nectar Source • •

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Erica carnea – Winter Heath

Botanical Family Ericaceae

Bloom Time January – March

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Tetrad

Aperture Number >6

Aperture Type Colpus

Ornamentation Psilate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color Light Green, Green

Corylus avellana ‘contorta’ – Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

Botanical Family Betulaceae

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Colpus

Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um)

Shape Triangular

Pollen Color

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Pollen Load Identification

Corylus spp. pollen typically has a large pollen load in the corbicula, but also causing pollen dusting on the head and antennae, and the posterior thorax and abdomen of the foraging bee.

Resources

Hodges, D. (1952). The pollen loads of the honey bee: a guide to their identification by colour and form. London: Bee Research Assoc. Ltd.

Viburnum bodtandense ‘Dawn’ – Viburnum

Botanical Family Adoxaceae

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Semitectate

Size (um) 21

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source •

Nectar Source •

Taraxacum officinale – Dandelion

Botanical Family Asteraceae

Bloom Time March – December

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Porate

Ornamentation Lophate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 35

Shape Round

Pollen Color Orange

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Pollen Load Identification

Taraxacum pollen load is typically a large packet on the corbicula, but the pollen can also be found dusted on the head and antennae, and posterior thorax and abdomen of a foraging bee.

Resources

Hodges, D. (1952). The pollen loads of the honey bee: a guide to their identification by colour and form. London: Bee Research Assoc. Ltd.

Lindtner, P. (2014). Garden Plants for Honey Bees. Kalamazzo: Wicwas Press.