From: Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]>

>How processed is the incoming pollen by the time it is comsumed?  If the delay is only a matter of hours, I would imagine not much.

well, there are 4 major stages of fermentation.  the first lasts about 12 hours and includes a large diversity of yeasts, molds, and bacteria.  there is some information that that the yeast fermentation (which happens mostly in this first 12 hours) is responsible for much of the nutritive transformation.

the most important thing to keep in mind (i think), is that pollen that is collected by the bees and trapped has already started to ferment.  as it sits in the collection draw, it continues to ferment.  if one wants fresh pollen, unfermented pollen, it has to be collected from the flower directly.

i think any study that claims to use trapped unfermented pollen (even if it irradiated) needs to be looked at closely.

out of curiosity, anyone have a number of the average length of time between when a pollen forager leaves the hive and returns?

deknow

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