6 Must Know Things About Bee Pollen

Pollen, that seemingly gentle dusting on flowers, holds within it a world of wonder and significance. Often overlooked in its quiet presence, pollen is the lifeblood of plant reproduction, and bees are its tireless couriers. Join us as we delve into the intricate world of pollen, exploring the fascinating ways in which bees collect it and the vital role it plays in both nature and human nutrition. 

What is Bee Pollen? 

Pollen, as Wikipedia puts it, is a “fine to coarse powdery substance comprising pollen grains.” Essentially, it serves as the male reproductive cells of flowering plants, crucial for fertilising the female reproductive structures. While we may recall from our school days that bees collect pollen to make honey, there’s so much more to this story. 

How Bee’s Collect Pollen  

A bee’s body is equipped with hair, even on tits eyes, strategically positioned to trap pollen grains as they flit from flower to flower, with some areas boasting up to three million hairs. Despite their diminutive size, bees are mighty haulers when it comes to pollen. Thanks to their specialised forelegs, which boast five times the density of hair found on their eyes, bees can carry a remarkable payload—up to 30% of their own body weight in pollen. 

The Art of Bee Cleaning 

Despite being covered in pollen, bees have a meticulous cleaning routine of bees, including delicately wiping their eyes with their front legs to grooming every inch of their bodies, bees demonstrate a remarkable dedication to cleanliness, removing thousands of pollen particles in just minutes. 

Why is Pollination Important 

While bees undoubtedly benefit from the pollen they collect, its true significance lies in the facilitation of creating seeds and enabling plant reproduction, which involves transferring genetic material from one flower to another. Without bees to pollinate plants, the reproduction of many species would be imperilled, severely impacting our food supply. 

The Ethical Harvesting of Bee Pollen 

When Bee Pollen is in abundance, beekeepers like ourselves ensure sustainable and bee-friendly practices to ensure hives are not overflowing and the pollen isn’t wasted. By installing pollen traps at hive entrances we help clean the bees for them in a seamless manner that lets them get on with hive duties whilst removing the surplus pollen. 

Why do we eat Bee Pollen? 

But pollen isn’t just essential for plants; it’s also a nutritional powerhouse for humans. Bee pollen is fast becoming a heralded superfood, as it is rich in protein and packed with free amino acids readily absorbed by the body. Just one teaspoon of bee pollen represents a month’s worth of labour for a bee, making us truly grateful for the invaluable work they do. 
 
So there you have it—a glimpse into the world of pollen and bees. From the tiny grains of pollen to the tireless efforts of bees, every aspect of this ecosystem is nothing short of extraordinary. So, the next time you see a bee buzzing by, take a moment to appreciate them! And if you’d like to try some delicious Bee pollen yourself click here!