DR, under those conditions I might have taken the opportunity of hastening her demise …
I opened a colony last year in a full-on thunderstorm, with heavy rain, lightning and drum-rolls of thunder. The bees were of Scottish stock from Colonsay. They stuck to the frames like glue, didn't budge and were completely docile. I was soaked and hugely relieved.
Tonight we wandered past a series of Laurel bushes on our evening stroll, it was alive with honeybees, but I'm at a loss as to why? Anyone shed any thoughts? They had their proboscis out dabbing on the leaves & stems.
Don't know the answer to that but does anyone know what this shrub is? In my years working in Livingston I've never seen a bee on any of the shrubs or trees but today this was covered in honey bees and bumbles
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The bees on the laurel are going for the extrafloral nectaries … I think they're on the younger leaves.
It looks like a Hebe.Originally Posted by Bridget
Don't know the answer to that but does anyone know what this shrub is? In my years working in Livingston I've never seen a bee on any of the shrubs or trees but today this was covered in honey bees and bumbles
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Could be but I'm used to Hebd being small ( probably stunted by the highland winds) and this was probably 3 ft high. Hard to tell how wide as possibly many plants.
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It is a Hebe
Thanks FS!
My bees are working the extrafloral nectaries on my broad bean plants and also those on the leaf bases of our cherry trees. Quite a few books refer to these and its interesting finding the sites on various plants and seeing the bees on them.
I have often noticed my bees on patches of non-flowering lamb's lettuce in my veg patch and also in short-grazed non-flowering specie-rich meadow - and assumed they were after water. Does anyone know if there is a list of plants with extra-floral nectaries somewhere?
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