I observed bees pollinating milkweed plants and
noticed that the pollen packets got stuck to their legs.
Frequently the bees expended great effort trying to free
themselves and after getting free spent a long time
trying to get the packets off their legs.
 
        I even found a couple bees that died in the
process, dangling, one leg firmly stuck to the flower!.
Has anyone else noticed this, and are there other plants
that are potentially lethal in this way?
 
        The succes rate on polination is very low with
only one or two of the flowers going to seed. It seems to
be a different pollination mechanism from the typical
powdery pollen of most plants bees visit. The milkweed
nectar seems to flow most of the day and night as I also
noticed moths at night on the flowers and bees and ants
at all times during the day. The nectar is very aromatic
and I had noticed the aroma coming from my hives in the
evening before realizing that is was milkweed.
 
        Last question, what is the quality of milkweed
honey?
 
        Thanks in advance,
 
                Jim Moore
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