Lots of pollen and not much nectar?

[dprater]

Inspected hive yesterday and not much stores. I got my bees in April and missed much of the spring flow here in South Carolina. So I'm thinging about feeding two are three days just for for a little treat for them.

I took this pic today and you can see lots of pollen coming in. But how can you have this much pollen and not much nector for storing? I watched for 20 minutes and it never stoped.

Danny

[David McLeod]

Just because a plant is blooming does not mean that it has both nectar and pollen or either for that matter.
Most of our southeastern nectar producing plants are done for the year or at least until fall when the goldenrod and aster come in. Now of course most anything that blooms does rely upon pollen for reproduction so pollen will almost always be available in some form as long as something somewhere is in bloom, though bees do not use all pollens the same. They have their preferences just as we do.
Nectar is also highly dependant upon available moisture. It takes alot of water to make nectar and the southeast has two peaks of available rainfall during the summer bloom season, spring and fall hence our two peak flow. This is also a reason why flows can fail from year to year if we miss the rain at the right times.
Before I would feed I would see if they had any capped honey or nectar curing, if so they will be fine without feed. If they do not then by all means feed. Their nectar/honey needs are lower this time of year as they are not burning pure carbs (honey) just to maintain warmth as they will come winter. 

[dprater]

Thanks for the infomation in you reply David. I  need to learn more about local flowers and when they bloom. I garden and they sure like cucumbers and squash which are in bloom now. I planted some red clover for them then found out white clover would have been best. I'm learning as I go thanks to people on this forum like you that take time to help newbees.

Danny

 

[Joe D]

I think there is more than 1 red clover,also.  Crimson clover they can get pollen not sure if they get anything from red clover.  There are lots and lots of things they get nectar and pollen from.  Good luck with your bees Danny.



Joe

[FRAMEshift]

I have noticed a big increase in pollen intake.  Most of it is a light yellow which I think is coming from plantain.  I bet you have plantain blooming in SC right now.  It's not a very rich pollen, so maybe they need more of it.  Or maybe that's all that's available.

[FRAMEshift]

Nectar is also highly dependant upon available moisture. It takes alot of water to make nectar and the southeast has two peaks of available rainfall during the summer bloom season, spring and fall hence our two peak flow.

Historically, the month of highest rainfall in North Carolina is July.  But it seems to me that this pattern has changed in the last decade or so and now conforms to what you are saying.  Did the Southeast have this dual nectar flow pattern 50 years ago?

Climate change is certainly real in my garden.  Flowers that bloomed on my daughter's birthday (May 26) when she was born, now bloom 2 to 3 weeks earlier.  My daughter is 25 years old.  

[Finski]

.
Pollen frames are valuable to bees sooner or later.

If you start with small colony in spring, don't believe that it makes to you honey so quickly.
A hive need to be at least 4 boxes that you get surplus honey.

[dprater]

 FRAMEshift said (I bet you have plantain blooming in SC right now.)
If I dont ask I will never know--- Plantain, in the water plantain?

Thanks

[FRAMEshift]

FRAMEshift said (I bet you have plantain blooming in SC right now.)
If I dont ask I will never know--- Plantain, in the water plantain?

No, it's a common plant with broad leaves.    It started blooming en mass on my property last week and the bees are all over it.  So I would think you have had it blooming in SC for several weeks.  Here is a photo.  https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScS5y1zRMX8QZniI8YK9kZyodjNrdTYCdA-RWQYeEvyE_WMNuh8Q