Pink larvae

[Bakersdozen]

I am mentoring a 12 year old girl with her first hive of honey bees.  This started from a package of bees.  She and I both noticed that the larvae has a slight pink color instead of pearly white.  I don't see signs of brood disease,  Everything is looking healthy.  She has an Italian queen.  I wondered if the larvae looked pink because the wax is so white at this point.  Any thoughts?

[Jen]

I did a quick search and didn't find any verbiage explaining your question, but I did find this photo where the mature larvae has a pink hue...

[Zweefer]

What type of pollen are they bringing in?

[Bakersdozen]

Hmmm.  It's a different neighborhood than mine.  I noticed white dutch clover starting to bloom and of course dandelions, creeping charlie.  They are in the city where I am suburban on the edge of town.

[Zweefer]

I was thinking flowers like rock purslane yield bright red pollen, and that may tint the larvae, like the diets of flamingos colors them?

Please note there is absolutely no scientific reasoning behind this thought….

[The15thMember]

I was thinking flowers like rock purslane yield bright red pollen, and that may tint the larvae, like the diets of flamingos colors them?

Please note there is absolutely no scientific reasoning behind this thought….

That was where my mind went originally.  I also have no evidence to back up this hypothesis, but the larvae are so translucent, it seems plausible to me. 

[Bakersdozen]

My student and I checked her hive today and the pink larvae situation appears to have resolved it's self.  It's a mystery but pollen source sure does make sense.

[Zweefer]

Good deal!

[Bakersdozen]

I got a text from my student this weekend.  She found pink larvae again.  I did some hive inspections yesterday on my own hives.  I saw the same pink larvae in a hive that I had started from a package.  This was on a frame of newly drawn wax.  This was about 3 day old larvae.