Field scabious pollen

Knautia arvensis

Dark brick orange-red, in the red range.

FloweringJuly to September

PollenGood

NectarGood

SeasonSummer, Autumn

WhereFarmland, Waste and verge, Hedgerow

That deep brick red load on the leg is a fair giveaway, and they can bring it in by the bucketful.

Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) in flower — Photo: Flocci Nivis, CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons

Easy to mistake for these

Closest pollen colours in our set, measured the same way the pollen identifier scores a match. Colour alone will not settle it, so check the flowering months and what is actually growing near your hives.

Horse chestnutMay to June Red deadnettleMarch to October LaburnumMay to June PearApril to May DandelionMarch to October, peak April to May

Confused with in the field

Noted by name in our own records, rather than worked out from the colour.

KnapweedVery pale olive cream

Out at about the same time

Bell heatherPale dull lilac grey Creeping thistlePale creamy yellow Globe thistleWhitish, pale cream Himalayan balsamGhostly white Ling heatherWhitish cream MarjoramDull tan-brown

Saw a load like this going in?

Sample the colour against all 89 plants, then keep a forage record per hive.

Pollen identifier