playtime8978
blackpool england
Posts: 471
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject: bees eating aphid secretion |
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whilst at my parents house a few weeks ago whilst it was a sunny afternoon i watched a bee feeding on the secretion from greenfly on her plum tree he sat for quite some time feeding we thought at first he was sunbathing until we looked closer and saw his proboscis out and was feeding on the secretion that the aphids were leaving on the leaves. I read somewhere that since plants that produce the nectar bees need to feed from are not abundant more and more have been resorting to this behavior. This is the first time we have seen this. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this behavior. Bees love my moms garden and had two species of bees nesting there last year ( it caused some issues !) and the garden has visitors this year but not i such a great abundance is this behavior i witnessed harmful to the bees i think i read they wont be getting the right nutrients from this feeding.
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toni
 Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11708
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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They will sometimes use the aphid 'honeydew' to supplement their nectar supplies during droughts. It doesn't harm the bees but does make the honey darker than usual and taste bad.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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playtime8978
blackpool england
Posts: 471
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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ah thank you i will be sure not to eat local honey this season , just joking glad it is not detrimental to the bees
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Papa2mykids
Kentwood, Michigan
Posts: 153
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:01 am Post subject: |
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It is quite common for bees and ants to eat the sticky honeydew (secretions) from plant sucking inscects like aphids and even scale infestations.
Secretions will eventually turn moldy black/gray and some people think they have a real problem with their plants.
Ron
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Peppersage
Kansas City
Posts: 313
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:52 am Post subject: |
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Ants will even have little aphid roundups and herd them into groups
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