If you are an experienced beekeeper, you may have considered harvesting not only honey and beeswax, but other products of the hive as well, including bee pollen. The tiny granules of pollen gathered by bees are consumed by many people who consider it a healthful supplement to their diets. To remove the pollen from the bees, you install a simple device, called a pollen trap, in the hive. To enter the hive, the bees must first pass through the trap, which brushes some of the pollen off into a collection drawer, where you can remove it later.
Step 1
Close all of the secondary entrances to the bee hive so that only the primary bottom entrance is open. Install the pollen trap in the front entrance or between the top and bottom brood chambers of the hive. As the bees move through the trap, some of the collected pollen will fall off into the collection drawer.
Step 2
Close off the main entrance of the hive until the bees start to use the pollen trap entrance, for pollen traps installed between brood chambers. Once the bees are comfortable with the new entrance, open the bottom entrance a reduced amount to allow the hive bees to perform general house keeping from that entrance, while the field bees use the pollen trap entrance to move in and out of the hive. For front mounted pollen traps, there is no need to reduce the entrance.
Step 3
Remove the collection drawer from the trap after two or three days to determine how fast the bees are gathering pollen. If the trap is full, empty the pollen within the trap drawer into the plastic container and replace the trap drawer again to gather more pollen at two to three day intervals.
Step 4
Pour the pollen out onto a dry baking sheet and remove any foreign debris from the pollen. Place the pollen in a fine sieve to remove any dust. Return the pollen to the plastic container and freeze the pollen for 24 hours, then store the pollen in a refrigerator, if you will use the pollen soon.
Step 5
Dry the pollen for longer, more stable storage by pouring it onto a baking tray with fine screen cover, so the pollen is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep. The screen allows warm air to circulate through the pollen and dry the individual pellets. Set your oven or drying system to 120 degrees F and place the trays in side with the door slightly open to allow moisture to escape.
Step 6
Test the dryness of the pollen by pinching an individual pollen pellet between your thumb and forefinger. If it does not break easily, it is properly dried. Place the pollen in an air tight container, seal the lid securely, and store the pollen a room temperature in a cool, dry location, out of direct sunlight.
Things You'll Need
- Pollen trap
- Fine sieve
- Baking tray
- Screen tray cover
- Plastic container
- Refrigerator/freezer
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