Bees

[Ann]

I grow raspberry canes in a very large pot in my front patio. This year they're doing better than ever and I look like having a bumper crop. Sitting outside this afternoon, I couldn't help but notice the number of bees that visited the canes. Considering the flowers are pretty insignificant, it surprised me. I was so close, that I got fascinated watching the pollen sacs filling up. In the end I got my camera out and several dozen shots later, these are the best ones.







Mark and Cathrin, you're the experts on bees, how do they transfer the pollen to the sacs? Have I caught a bee actually making the transfer in the second shot?

[Cathrin]

It looks like it Ann, Bees 'comb' the pollen down thier bodys with the front set of legs to get it into what looks like those yellow blobs (pollen sacks) on the legs.

This is also very strange as I am talking about Bees on one of my other Forums today, about how they can become infested with mites and can't fly.
Mark and I have also set up some of the Bee houses and they do work, we have quite a few of the solitary Bees using them every year
This all helps in conservation for Bees and more Raspberrys

[Lesley]

fantastic pictures - i love the first one. i was watching the 'bee crowd' on my mother's
rhododendron yesterday. they are quite amazing. the bees i mean - not sure about the bright lipstick pink rhodo.

lesley