Sweet Probing. Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, on Ptelea trifoliata, Common Hop Tree, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In Britain there's something called the 'June Gap'. The term pertains to the period between Spring and Summer when there are fewer wildflowers due to the encroaching new grasses and such. I don't know whether this hold for Europe as well, but wouldn't be surprised if it did. During this time insects such as Bees and Bumblebees congregate on the flowers of trees like this Ptelea trifoliata, Common Hop Tree.
Our Tree hails from North America and was introduced to England at the very end of the seventeenth century. Soon it was found in Europe as well. And its delicious aroma pervades the Hortus now.
Our Bee is a Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, probing deeply along the flower's pistil for Sweetness.
If you're interested in the historical taxonomy of Pteleas do go to a marvellous article by Virginia Long Bailey, 'Revision of the Genus Ptelea' (1962).
Sweet Probing. Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, on Ptelea trifoliata, Common Hop Tree, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In Britain there's something called the 'June Gap'. The term pertains to the period between Spring and Summer when there are fewer wildflowers due to the encroaching new grasses and such. I don't know whether this hold for Europe as well, but wouldn't be surprised if it did. During this time insects such as Bees and Bumblebees congregate on the flowers of trees like this Ptelea trifoliata, Common Hop Tree.
Our Tree hails from North America and was introduced to England at the very end of the seventeenth century. Soon it was found in Europe as well. And its delicious aroma pervades the Hortus now.
Our Bee is a Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, probing deeply along the flower's pistil for Sweetness.
If you're interested in the historical taxonomy of Pteleas do go to a marvellous article by Virginia Long Bailey, 'Revision of the Genus Ptelea' (1962).