Liatris spicata – Blazing Star

Botanical Family Asteraceae

Bloom Time July – August

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Echinate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 26

Shape Round

Pollen Color Light Yellow, Yellow, Tan

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source •

Nectar Source •

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Scilla siberica – Siberian Squill

Botanical Family Asparagaceae

Bloom Time April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 1

Aperture Type Sulcus

Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color Blue

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • • •

Nectar Source • •

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 •

Lilium superbum–Turk’s Cap Lily

 

 

Botanical Family: Liliaceae

Bloom Time July

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 1

Aperture Type Sulcate

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Semitectate

Size (um) 80

Shape Oval

Aesculus hippocastanum – Horse Chestnut

Botanical Family Sapindaceae

Bloom Time May

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Psilate/Striate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 20

Shape Round

Pollen Color Red

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • • •

Nectar Source • • •

Pollen Load Identification

The pollen of Aesculus spp. is known to cause a lot of dusting on the body of the foraging bee. Typically, the Aesculus spp. pollen creates a dusting on the posterior thorax, and the posterior and anterior abdomen of the foraging bee. Pollen has also been noted on the wings of bees visiting Aesculus for nectar instead of pollen.

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.

Callicarpa dichotoma – Purple Beautyberry

 

Botanical Family: Lamiaceae

Bloom Time June – August

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Colpus

Ornamentation Psilate/granulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 37

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source •

Nectar Source • • • •

Pachysandra terminalis – Japanese Spurge

Botanical Family Buxaceae

Bloom Time April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 6+

Aperture Type Porate

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 41

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • •

Nectar Source • •

Pachysandra procumbens – Allegheny Spurge

Botanical Family Buxaceae

Bloom Time March – April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Galanthus nivalis – Snowdrop

Botanical Family Amaryllidaceae

Bloom Time February

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 1

Aperture Type Sulcus

Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 25

Shape Oval

Pollen Color Orange, Yellow

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • • •

Nectar Source • • •

Hedera helix – English Ivy

Botanical Family Araliaceae

Bloom Time September – October

 Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Semitectate

Size (um)

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow, Orange

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source • • •

Nectar Source • • •