> >Do bees use pine pollen?  All input greatly appreciated.
 
Being primarily dependent on wind pollination, such plants as pine
trees produce *large* quantities of *low value* pollen (ie, low
protein level, if nothing else...).
 
Australian researchers some years ago did some very informative work
on protein content of various pollens, correlating it to the protein
levels in the haemolymph of the bees, showing that in the leadup to a
nectar flow, it was essential to get the protein levels up by taking
the hives to a pollen producing area several months before.  I could
(maybe) find the references if anyone is interested.
 
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Nick Wallingford
President - National Beekeepers Assn of NZ
NZ beekeeping: http://www.wave.co.nz/pages/nickw/nzbkpg.htm
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