MICROBIOLOGY OF POLLEN AND BEE BREAD : THE GENUS BACILLUS

Abstract

Forty-one bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus were isolated from almond, Prunus dulcis (= P. = amygdalus P. communis), pollen from the flower; from pollen pellets from traps placed on hives of honey bees, Apis mellifera, in the almond orchard; and from pollen stored in the comb cells of the hive (bee bread) for one, three, and six weeks. Thirty-three of the 41 isolates were B. subtilis, the only species associated with all pollen and bee bread samples. Bacillus megaterium, B. licheniformis, B. pumilus, and B. circulans were also isolated. Since the greatest number of Bacillus isolates and species were found in pollen from the trap, the foraging bees may have added the organisms to the pollen.