>
>
>  >>So when rape is in flower they work that almost exclusively, moving
> only to field beans or hawthorn for example when the rape is going over.
> Pussy willow is an example of low grade pollen that bees will work avidly
> when in bloom.
> Dandelions and apples are another example - growers have to spray off the
> dandelions if they want their apples pollinated well, yet we are told that
> dandelion pollen is not very good for them,
>

This is why I enjoy beekeeping so much. So many "why" questions to be asked.

Bees (honey bees and bumblebees) seem to be able to make food choices based
on need - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180207110106.htm (I
have read a few more studies on the topic). The question is, is that at the
individual level or at the colony level and at what point does this
potential behaviour get hijacked by other biological needs/foraging
behaviours wiring.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00248-018-1147-7

Rape (canola) here is a great honey producing plant that offers the bees
but really the beekeepers here in our prairies great yields. The beekeepers
also know that that honey must be pulled and replaced with sugar syrup
honey if they want their bees to survive the winter (crystallized quickly
and makes a poor winter feed in cold climates). Nutritionally from what I
have read, it (rape pollen) is very healthy for the bees and allows them to
produce a good start to the winter bees. Most commercial beekeepers
supplement with patties in fall to ensure the bees get the nutrition
required to pull them through our long winters.

The challenge is understanding what the human impacts are to the available
forage variety, diversity and nutritional content for bees (natural vs
hybrids) .

Dandelions are present along our roads and we have small numbers of them in
our 1/2 acre growing area. The pollen mix is very balanced during my
intermittent pollen collection where colour dominance only occurs at the
start of the season (April) (willows) and at the end of the season (early
August) (fireweed).

Fortunately for me, my bees are kept in a very wild and mostly undisturbed
landscape with little agriculture. I am limited to 2-4 hives per location
and my yields are small comparatively 25-75lbs/hive but the landscape
offers great floral variety until the late summer at which point I need to
put my beekeeper hat on and help the bees with patties and some sugar
syrup. No requirement to feed in spring, other than my late winter patties.


Interesting Studies on Topic:
Bumble Bee -
https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/27/3/731/2365383?login=false
Bees learn preferences for plant species that offer only pollen as a reward

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