How Bees Collect and Use Pollen.

Pollen is a vital source of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals for honeybees. While nectar provides energy through sugars, pollen is essential for brood development and the overall health of the colony. Worker bees collect pollen from flowering plants using special structures on their hind legs called pollen baskets (corbiculae). As a bee visits a flower, pollen grains stick to its hairy body. She grooms herself mid-flight, packing the pollen into these baskets with a bit of nectar to make sticky pellets.

Back at the hive, the pollen is deposited into cells, where it's often mixed with nectar and enzymes to form bee bread. This fermented mixture is easier to digest and stores well. Nurse bees, which care for larvae, consume the bee bread and convert its nutrients into royal jelly and other secretions to feed the queen and developing bees.

Without sufficient pollen, colonies struggle to raise healthy young, and the queen slows down egg-laying. In times of scarcity—like early spring or during droughts—beekeepers may supplement pollen using pollen patties. Pollen collection also makes bees excellent pollinators, as they unintentionally transfer grains between flowers, enabling plant reproduction while gathering nutrition for the hive. It's a remarkable example of mutual benefit in nature.

Some beekeepers use pollen traps to harvest pollen from their hives. As bees squeeze through the trap, the pollen pellets they carry in their sacs are dislodged and fall into a collection tray, which is later emptied and sold. While this practice can be profitable, frequent pollen collection is not ideal for colony health. Pollen is essential for making bee bread, the primary food for larvae and young bees. Without it, colony growth and resilience may suffer. For the long-term well-being of the hive, it is best to leave all the pollen for the bees themselves.