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Old 03-03-2014, 09:45 PM   #12 (permalink)
George Webster
 
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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Default Re: Peach tree pollenization

Quote:
Originally Posted by raygrogan View Post
Somewhere I read that bees are specialists in the sense that they only go to one kind of flower on each run, then go dump their nectar into the batch, then go out for a different type of flower. Could be a time of day thing, etc. Most peaches tend to set too much fruit and you have to thin them.
A Queen mates during her second week of life. Taking several mating flights. Mating with 5 to 10 drones. Average 8. So there are several subfamilies within the hive. Some will be pollen collectors others nectar collectors. Others will do both. Some will only visit the plant they first visited for the whole week they still have to live. Others will not be particular and visit several different plants on each trip. Some will forage close to the hive. Others will fly a good distance before they look for food sources.

It is really a very complex system that works for the good of the colony. Bees are fascinating livestock to keep. In my opinion, great pets.

George.
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