Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75295
Title: A DROP IS A DROP IS A DROP?

Author
item Jones, Gretchen
item BRYANT, VAUGHN - TAMU

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: It has always been assumed that drops from a thoroughly mixed pollen residue are equal in pollen concentration values and in the number of taxa. To test this assumption, we examined five drops of pollen residue from a pollen rich honey sample. A 500 grain count was made for each drop by first counting 200 grains and then three consecutive sets of 100 grains. Differences in pollen concentration values among the four different counts within the same drop were not significant nor were the pollen concentration values among drops. No single drop consistently had more or fewer taxa. Total number of taxa varied from 34 to 75. Each successively higher count had significantly more taxa. The five separate drops were not the same in regards to the number of taxa each contained. A total of 130 taxa were found. None of the counts accounted for more than 60 percent of the total number of taxa. Some taxa occurred in only 1 drop. It is recommended that tat last a 500 grain count be made for honey samples.