Honey bee queens and workers collect pollen, but only leave the colony to mate or establish a new colony, and they do not forage for food for the rest of the colony, unlike queen bumble bees. Honey bee worker with full pollen baskets on hind legs.

Do female bees collect pollen?

Females—the worker bees—consume nectar, too, but also carry pollen from the fields to their hive. These tasks require females to visit a greater diversity of flowers.

Will bees collect pollen if there is no queen?

Without a queen there to lay eggs, there will be no more brood for them to care for. This creates a job imbalance in the hive and may result in increased foraging and food stores. If you see plenty of honey and pollen, but no brood, you may have a queenless colony on your hands.