Pollen Trap?

[Boykins]

Has anyone ever used the superior pollen trap that Mann Lake sells. My mother-in law wants some pollen. And I would like to try it, would just like to get a good one.

[Perry]

I bought two Sundance traps about 3 years ago and have yet to use them. 

[iddee]

If it were for just enough for her, I would look at this one.

http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Plastic-Pollen-Trap/productinfo/ND464/

Or, this.

http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Fresh-Pollen/productinfo/618/

[alfredw]

I really like the Sundance top mounted trap I have 8 of them and they work great and are easy to manage and maintain.

[Boykins]

Thanks for the suggestions, the cheaper one from brushy mountain sure looks appealing.

[tecumseh]

I have several of those Alfred and they work pretty well > the basics of trapping pollen is you do need either tight equipment or to seal up every blemish in whatever equipment you do have.  I think I bought the ones I have from BetterBee when they were on sale.  For the price they are absolutely the best deal on the block..... I have used other top and bottom mounted pollen traps and beyond the larger price only about half of these will actually collect any pollen. 

[robo]

 

I too bought a few of these plastic traps from Betterbee a while back.   They are cheap, and the quality shows it (fit & finish),  but I was very pleased with the performance.   For an individual collecting for person use,  I don't think there is a better option.

[CpnObvious]

I've used pollen.  I enjoy pollen, I think it's cool looking, and all that jazz...

But if you set up a pollen trap and just leave it there... How do the little buggers feed their little buggers?  I've never understood that, not that I've ever looked into it.

[robo]

I've used pollen.  I enjoy pollen, I think it's cool looking, and all that jazz...

But if you set up a pollen trap and just leave it there... How do the little buggers feed their little buggers?  I've never understood that, not that I've ever looked into it.

Some pollen traps are designed to only collect a portion of the pollen and others are designed to allow you to switch collecting on and off.

[CpnObvious]

How do you know how long is "safe" to leave it on?  I have seen that many of them can be clipped wide open.  If it's peak brood season, wouldn't it hinder the bees from feeding their little ones?  Do you open for a day, close for a day, etc?  I certainly won't be collecting pollen this year... just gonna tuck the knowledge away in the info sponge up top.

[apisbees]

It is suggested that pollen should only be trapped when their is an abundance of pollen available to be collected. Also that pollen should not be collected continually from a hive. Unless the trap has a screen bypass, or the screen that dislodges the pollen is removable. The pollen trap should only be placed on the intermittently.
With the use of the "superior pollen trap that Mann Lake sells" it will require breaking the hive down to the bottom board to remove and install it.

[emakovec]

I have one of the Brushy Mountain yellow plastic traps, and I cannot keep bees out of the basket! Every day I’ve trapped (about 6) I’ve had a dozen or more bees (some alive, some dead) down there. One day when it was quite hot (90 and sunny) there were several hundred, and I figured the front must have warped and sagged and allowed them free access for awhile.

So I’ve since taped that part closed, and we’re back to the dozen a day. I’m convinced that they’re able to squeeze through the top screen to get in, and I’ve even seen a couple with their heads through the holes. And I’m not a small-cell guy with undersized bees.

Brushy Mountain tells me I’m the only one who’s ever reported this; is that possible?

[iddee]

I would ask Brushy to replace it. They are good about things like that.

[Bakersdozen]

I have one of the Brushy Mountain yellow plastic traps, and I cannot keep bees out of the basket! Every day I’ve trapped (about 6) I’ve had a dozen or more bees (some alive, some dead) down there. One day when it was quite hot (90 and sunny) there were several hundred, and I figured the front must have warped and sagged and allowed them free access for awhile.

So I’ve since taped that part closed, and we’re back to the dozen a day. I’m convinced that they’re able to squeeze through the top screen to get in, and I’ve even seen a couple with their heads through the holes. And I’m not a small-cell guy with undersized bees.

Brushy Mountain tells me I’m the only one who’s ever reported this; is that possible?

Welcome to the forum emakovec!  Feel free to introduce your self in the Welcome Section of the forum.

[emakovec]

So iddee, you think it's just defective? I was hoping to see a comment from someone else who's used this model with or without problems. My problem for now though is, I need to collect pollen every two weeks for a study, and I'm afraid if I send it back I won't have a replacement within two weeks, so I'll just have to live with it till the study's over in the fall.
This week I collected on a hot day, taped the top again to make sure it wouldn't warp in the heat, and when I went out in the evening to pull the tray it was chock full of bees. They were also hanging all around the outside (top, bottom, front and back), and boy were they mad when I pulled out the tray. I've learned I have to dump the pollen and bees into a colander and sift out the pollen, which makes them madder still.Then I can't snap the trap into the open position without smashing bees, so I have to just put a stick in to hold it partway open. What a pain!

[Barbarian]

Ema

I don't know how big a sample you need. If it's only a small sample (for microscopy) you could try slipping a standard round hole mouse guard across the entrance during a foraging day. The guard will knock off some of the pollen baskets.

As with a pollen trap, the guard should not be left on full time.

[iddee]

You will never know if you don't ask. They may send a replacement and let you send the old one back after you get the new.