Deep Corolla. Dipsacus pilosus, Small Teasel, and Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Very white with dark purple almost black anthers on high white filaments, this Small Teasel flower, Dipsacus pilosus. But our Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum is said to be uninterested in flower colors although recent research has shown them to slightly favor yellow . The corollas of this Small Teasel are quite deep - as you can see in the photo - but that should be no problem for this Bee because it has an extraordinary long tongue. Thus it doesn't gnaw at the 'root' of the corolla of these flowers - as other insects and some Bumblebees indeed do. It can access Sweet Nectar directly without damage to the flower. In fact, recently it has also been shown that Bombus hortorum can detect flowers damaged in this way. Thus they avoid these so as to more economically drink from Nectar-Fuller flowers.
Deep Corolla. Dipsacus pilosus, Small Teasel, and Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Very white with dark purple almost black anthers on high white filaments, this Small Teasel flower, Dipsacus pilosus. But our Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum is said to be uninterested in flower colors although recent research has shown them to slightly favor yellow . The corollas of this Small Teasel are quite deep - as you can see in the photo - but that should be no problem for this Bee because it has an extraordinary long tongue. Thus it doesn't gnaw at the 'root' of the corolla of these flowers - as other insects and some Bumblebees indeed do. It can access Sweet Nectar directly without damage to the flower. In fact, recently it has also been shown that Bombus hortorum can detect flowers damaged in this way. Thus they avoid these so as to more economically drink from Nectar-Fuller flowers.