Quantity of pollen

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Answer: ~20–40 kg in temperate zones (with extremes ranging from 6 kg in Northern Europe to 220 kg in California).

Pollen is the source of proteins (+ minerals & vitamins) required by nurse bees to rear the brood and is essential for the development of the entire colony. Annual pollen intake is difficult to measure precisely, but a satisfactory estimate can be obtained by analyzing pollen traps installed by the beekeeper. Numerous studies are available and allow the following points to be highlighted: the amount of pollen collected depends on colony strength and brood volume, the presence of diverse pollen sources in the vicinity of the hive, the phenology of these pollen-producing plants, and weather and climatic conditions. In Central Europe, pollen collection is interrupted during the winter months when the colony is broodless. In the Mediterranean region, collection continues from October to March without interruption, but in somewhat more moderate quantities. In Switzerland (continental climate), the so-called “June gap” is well known, during which pollen is frequently scarce and which encourages beekeepers to move their colonies to higher altitudes.

A small portion of the pollen harvest, on the order of 600–700 g, is stored throughout the beekeeping season in frames at the periphery of the brood nest. Winter reserves are particularly low (< 100 g) and are therefore all the more valuable when egg laying resumes at the end of January …

► For further reading: Recognizing pollen