Blackpowder Posted August 31, 2022 Report Share Posted August 31, 2022 I have a willow hedge around my allotment patch first to draw water from a poorly drained site second to provide a bit shelter from a wind blown site. This past week there has been an incredible invasion of insects, mainly bumble bees but wasps, bluebottles and butterflies, attracted it seems by aphids on the willow bark. Close inspection showed masses of them tightly clustered and apparently according to an internet site excreting honey dew. The ground is in fact sticky while the myriad of insects are not eating the aphids but seem to be feeding of the ground and the foliage below the aphid colonies. Certainly great to see so many bumble bees around. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted August 31, 2022 Report Share Posted August 31, 2022 2 hours ago, Blackpowder said: I have a willow hedge around my allotment patch first to draw water from a poorly drained site second to provide a bit shelter from a wind blown site. This past week there has been an incredible invasion of insects, mainly bumble bees but wasps, bluebottles and butterflies, attracted it seems by aphids on the willow bark. Close inspection showed masses of them tightly clustered and apparently according to an internet site excreting honey dew. The ground is in fact sticky while the myriad of insects are not eating the aphids but seem to be feeding of the ground and the foliage below the aphid colonies. Certainly great to see so many bumble bees around. Blackpowder Sounds great , any photos ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted August 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2022 45 minutes ago, islandgun said: Sounds great , any photos ? Yes but trying to put them on here is beyond my patience. Seen 3 or 4 bumblers in a hand sized piece of earth very sticky it is too , usually steer clear of wasps but the ones seeking the nectar seem totally non aggressive . Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted August 31, 2022 Report Share Posted August 31, 2022 7 minutes ago, Blackpowder said: Yes but trying to put them on here is beyond my patience. Seen 3 or 4 bumblers in a hand sized piece of earth very sticky it is too , usually steer clear of wasps but the ones seeking the nectar seem totally non aggressive . Blackpowder Yes loading pics on here is a pain, I wonder if wasps and bees are sated [a bit like you after a good dinner] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted September 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 10 hours ago, islandgun said: Yes loading pics on here is a pain, I wonder if wasps and bees are sated [a bit like you after a good dinner] Yes I think they were, even a little bit drunk perhaps. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 1, 2022 Report Share Posted September 1, 2022 Very interesting, I knew wasps did this, I was trimming a cherry tree last year, it always gets loads of aphids which bring the wasps in and they didn't take kindly to me doing it all, I had to wait till later after hosing the area down. Never seen bees or butterflies doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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