honey bee on Leycesteria formosa (Himalayan honeysuckle) {explored}
Thanks to Plantaholic Sheila for the identification of the plant.
An impressive shrub/small tree in full flower in Mount Stewart at present.
I could see that quite a few bees were working these flowers but not entering the tubes but instead feeding through the side of the flower, On closer inspection it was easy to see that there were holes in the side of the tubes of almost every flower, presumably made by other insects. The honey bees were taking advantage of these as a way of getting to nectar that they would not otherwise have had access to. "nectar robbing"
For my Honey bees on named flowers set
And will also go on the botanically sorted spreadsheet at:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-_uJANb_oKgIZLEvm0mFjYq3W...
honey bee on Leycesteria formosa (Himalayan honeysuckle) {explored}
Thanks to Plantaholic Sheila for the identification of the plant.
An impressive shrub/small tree in full flower in Mount Stewart at present.
I could see that quite a few bees were working these flowers but not entering the tubes but instead feeding through the side of the flower, On closer inspection it was easy to see that there were holes in the side of the tubes of almost every flower, presumably made by other insects. The honey bees were taking advantage of these as a way of getting to nectar that they would not otherwise have had access to. "nectar robbing"
For my Honey bees on named flowers set
And will also go on the botanically sorted spreadsheet at:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-_uJANb_oKgIZLEvm0mFjYq3W...