![]() The serious objection to this type of trap is the amount of debris accumulated in the collected pollen. Durante (1) produced a trap similar to the OAC’s trap. The new hive entrance is in the same position as the bottom board entrance had been and is readily used by the bees. The grid is large and horizontally positioned, and the pollen-collecting tray is removed from the back of the hive. Smith (15) and Smith and Adie (16) describe the Ontario Agricultural College’s (OAC) trap that fits on a bottom board that has been reversed front to rear. The inclined grid could also be removed from the side for cleaning. This trap was slightly modified by Langwell (8) and Killion (7), but the grids became plugged with dead bees and drones, which made cleaning difficult and restricted ventilation in the hive.įor pollen identification studies, Nye (11) constructed a trap that fit underneath the hive and had an opening on the side for removing the pollen tray. Schaefer and Farrar (14) described a trap placed at the base of the hive on a raised bottom board so that the normal hive entrance could be used. They used the resulting trap to measure the pollen income to hives and the seasonal distribution of pollen in four California locations. Todd and Bishop (18) improved these guards by changing the grid from perforated metal to 5-mesh hardware cloth. Pollen traps, called “pollen guards,” were first used by Farrar (3) to prevent bees from bringing pollen into the hive. ![]() It stimulates brood rearing in early spring when comb-stored pollen is unavailable or the supply inadequate. Stored pollen is a basic ingredient of a pollen supplement for feeding bees. Incoming pollen can be sampled for studies of foraging activities of bees and for identifying and classifying pollen sources at a given location. All traps, however, have two basic elements: (1) a grid through which pollen-carrying bees must crawl to separate the pollen pellets from the bees’ legs, and (2) a container to store these pellets. Each has some feature that makes it particularly adaptable for a specific purpose. These traps vary greatly in size, appearance, and method of installation on the hive. Traps for collecting pollen pellets from legs of honey bees have been designed to trap pollen reserves. During major nectar flows, pollen trapping is unprofitable, and the grid slows down active flight, which reduces honey production. ![]() Pollen should be removed from the trap often (daily during heavy pollen flows) and cared for properly. Trapping should be done only during pollen flows of one-quarter pound per day minimum, and traps or grids should be removed at other times. Pollen should be trapped only from strong, disease-free colonies in bee-tight hives. The size, shape, and arrangement of the parts the location of the trap on the colony the method of installation and other factors can be varied to suit ii individual preferences and prevailing circumstances. This basic principle is common to all pollen traps.Ī double-layer grid with the layers separated by 3/16- to 1/4-inch and the openings offset is efficient. This grid is used with a pellet collection container that is covered by 7- or 8-mesh screen to prevent bee entry. Pollen trapping is dependent on the use of a screen or perforated metal grid of about 5-mesh per inch through which the pollen-collecting field bees are forced to enter the colony. The authors thank Specialists Ronald Meyer and Andrew Hopfensperger, Jr., of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Agricultural and Life Science, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, for illustrating the pollen trap. Harp, agricultural engineer and agricultural research technician, Bee Management and Entomology Research, Agricultural Research Service, Madison, Wis. Review of Wood Frames for the Langstroth Hiveī. Pollen Traps – Trapping Pollen From Honey Bee ColoniesĬleo Hogan Trapout Instructions (with photos) Modified Pillow Block Bar for Maxant Chain Uncapper 10-Frame Langstroth Beehive – Barry Birkey
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |