Location: Carl Hayden Bee Research Center
Project Number: 2022-21000-022-054-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2023
End Date: Jun 30, 2024
Objective:
The primary purpose of this work is to help fill a gap of knowledge concerning the contribution of tallow pollen and nectar to honey bee colony nutrition during late spring in the southeast United States.
Approach:
To achieve this, the following objectives will be performed: 1) Determine the relative abundance of tallow pollen collected by pollen foraging honey bees during tallow bloom, 2) Describe the nutrient composition of tallow pollen collected directly from flowers, and 3) Describe the nutrient composition of tallow nectar collected directly from flowers. Information obtained from this work will contribute to a better understanding of the importance of tallow, a naturalized deciduous plant in the southeast United States. Data pertaining to pollen identification and nutritional analyses of pollen and nectar will be delivered to APHIS by November 1, 2022.
