Picture attached. It probably is pollen. There are two bees side by side near the center left with the white on their backs. It actually sort of looks like an hour glass. I'm sending them off to OSU.
Michelle may be spot on with her analysis. I'll let you know.
What I've been curious about is a white stripe down the thorax. I'm not sure it's pollen. The stripe has crisp straight lines down each side.
I might have to take a picture and send it to Carolyn Breece.
Hello all, we have been noticing a white powdery looking substance on our bees thorax fairly recently. Being newer beekeepers we were alarmed at first as it seemed to be affecting more and more of our bees in all our hives. So after some research we found that this is most likely coming from the Jewel weed plant that grows along creeks, bogs, damp areas, probably our low level ponds etc. The jewel weed's flower is an orange color but the pollen is white. I swear... we actually learn something new almost every day!
Anyway, we were wondering if others were having this happen too and just wanted to put this info out there for other 'newbees' like us. Our bees are all doing well and looking healthy.