Glossary
A device attached to the hive entrance that strips pollen loads from returning forager bees' legs as they pass through a grid of small openings. Pollen traps enable beekeepers to collect fresh bee pollen for human consumption, supplement sales, and nutritional analysis of the colony's foraging environment.
Returning forager bees carry pollen in baskets (corbiculae) on their hind legs. Each pollen load is a compressed pellet approximately 2 to 4 mm in diameter. A pollen trap forces bees through a grid with openings just large enough for the bee's body but too small for the pollen pellets on the legs. As the bee squeezes through, the pellets are stripped off and fall into a collection tray below the grid. The bee continues into the hive to resume normal activities.
Front-entrance traps: Attach to the hive entrance, forcing bees through the stripping grid before entering. Easy to install and monitor. The collection tray is accessible from outside. Bottom-mount traps: Replace the standard bottom board with a trap floor assembly. More permanent installation, higher collection efficiency, but more disruptive to install. Top traps: Placed above the inner cover; bees enter through the top and are stripped. Less common in standard Langstroth operations.
Never trap continuously. A colony needs its pollen for brood rearing (it is their only protein source). Trap for 2 to 3 days, then remove the trap for 4 to 5 days, cycling throughout the pollen season. This collects approximately 30 to 50% of incoming pollen while leaving adequate protein for brood nutrition. Do not trap during periods of poor pollen availability, weak colony populations, or when the colony is already protein-stressed.
A strong colony can produce 50 to 100 pounds of pollen per season, and a pollen trap captures approximately 30 to 50% of this. A typical hobby beekeeper with a pollen trap might collect 15 to 30 pounds per hive per season. Fresh pollen sells for to 15 per pound locally, making it a worthwhile supplemental product.
Fresh pollen is highly perishable due to its moisture content (15 to 25%). Dry it within 24 hours of collection: spread in a thin layer on a screen in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area (or use a food dehydrator at 95 to 100 degrees F) until pellets are hard and do not clump. Store dried pollen in sealed containers in the freezer for maximum shelf life (1 to 2 years).
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