Turkish pine
Source of pine honey: it gives no nectar, but honeydew from the scale insect Marchalina hellenica provides a strong flow from late summer to November.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Slow
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 20-30 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Turkish pine gives no floral nectar; its value comes from the honeydew of the scale insect (Marchalina hellenica) living on its branches. The insect sucks the sap and leaves sugary sweet droplets, which bees collect to make pine honey. Turkey supplies most of the world's pine honey; the main areas are the coasts of Muğla, Aydın, İzmir and Antalya.
Flowering and honeydew season
The tree is pollinated in March-May and sheds plenty of yellow pollen, but bees collect little of it and its nutritional value is low. The main flow runs from late August to late November; the most productive period is usually September-October. Honeydew increases in mild, humid weather; severe drought or cold, rainy weather reduces it.
Honey
Pine honey is an amber-toned honeydew honey, not very sweet, with a slightly resinous aroma and rich in minerals. It crystallises very slowly and stays liquid for a long time.
Note for the beekeeper
Plan the move for late August. Honeydew honey can be hard on the bees as winter stores; leave some blossom honey or syrup for the winter. Forest fires shrink the foraging area for years.