Bumble bees

[alfbranch]

Here are some shots of bumble bees eating/drining from my laurel hedge. I have observed other insects visit these leaves and do the same, at the base of each leaf are lttle pores (I do not know the correct term) that sap pools in and the insects eat/drink


Bumble bee feeding laurel 1 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Bumble bee feeding laurel 2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Bumble bee feeding laurel 3 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

 

[Peter123]

Hi Alf
They are taking nectar from the extra-floral nectaries.
Some plants have these and bees visit them.
Bracken also has them but I have never seen bees on bracken.

 

[Norkie]

Interesting, I never knew that. Nice shots Alf

 

[GardenersHelper]

Good captures Alf, especially #1 and #3 to my eye.

Very interesting about the laurel. I'll have to take a closer look at ours. I hardly ever notice anything on it, but perhaps that is because I only give it a cursory glance as I pass by (because I've never found much on it).

 

[alfbranch]

Hi Alf
They are taking nectar from the extra-floral nectaries.
Some plants have these and bees visit them.
Bracken also has them but I have never seen bees on bracken.

Thanks Peter
I have just found out about EFN and apparently there are thousands of plants that have them

Interesting, I never knew that. Nice shots Alf

Thanks Jak

Good captures Alf, especially #1 and #3 to my eye.

Very interesting about the laurel. I'll have to take a closer look at ours. I hardly ever notice anything on it, but perhaps that is because I only give it a cursory glance as I pass by (because I've never found much on it).

Thanks Nick
They visit very fleetingly I geuss the hive have discovered the food source as there are lots of bumble bees on my headge atm

Here is an EFN up close

Katiannidae-on-Laurel by Alf Branch, on Flickr

I have seen wasps too

Wasp by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Here is a honey bee

Bees-like-Laurel by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Here is a fly

Feeding-fly by Alf Branch, on Flickr

 

[GardenersHelper]

I like the extras Alf! Nicely done with the springtail to give the scale of the EFN (which are new to me too). Tasty wasp image.

Good stuff. I shall examine the laurel.

 

[alfbranch]

I like the extras Alf! Nicely done with the springtail to give the scale of the EFN (which are new to me too). Tasty wasp image.

Good stuff. I shall examine the laurel.

Thanks Nick I rather like that wasp shot myself.
Knowing what an EFN is, is new to me as of today.

 

[hoftwi]

Never saw that springtail before! Great shots

 

[alfbranch]

Never saw that springtail before! Great shots

Thanks Icy
The sprintail is a Katiannidae I have others shots of them

https://flic.kr/p/s468b2

Ed Philips did a survey of them in his garden

https://flic.kr/p/RJTbuf

 

[Andy Johnson]

Interesting post. Iv'e seen this happening but never took much notice. Now i know thanks.

 

[alfbranch]

Interesting post. Iv'e seen this happening but never took much notice. Now i know thanks.

Thanks Andy.