Another Bee Related Question

Tilly2 | 15:33 Thu 20th Jun 2013 | Home & Garden

24 Answers

having been watching the bees bobbing in and out of the poppies, I was wondering if the flower ever runs out of nectar. If lots of bees visit one flower, do they drink it dry?

Something Wonderful

Sweet Basil 'genovese@

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woofgang

Best Answer

the flower either fades because it has been pollinated or because it has come to the end of its time. It doesn't die early because there is no nectar left and it doesn't live longer because there is still nectar left.

16:23 Thu 20th Jun 2013

Go To Best Answer

woofgang

yes they do. Some flowers that last more than a day, produce more and some flowers with a shorter lifespan do not.

Tilly2

Question Author

So, do they 'kill' the flower, woofgang?

woofgang

no, the nectar is there precisely to attract the pollinating insects.

gness

Tilly...spending much of my childhood in Ireland where the hedges were beautiful fuchsia bushes I used to pick the heads of the flowers, break off the top piece of the flower head where it joins its stem...and suck out the nectar...try it....delicious....x

Tilly2

Question Author

I don't have a sweet tooth, gness. I don't think I'd like it. Besides which, we don't have wild fuchsias where I live.

tonyav

we don't have wild fuchsias where I live.

Get some planted then, Yilly !.

Tilly2

Question Author

Thank you, woofgang. Some of the bees I've been watching today had so much pollen in their pollen sacs, I wondered if they would be able to fly back to the colony.
I know about the nectar attracting the pollinating insects. I just wondered if, when all the nectar has been collected, the flower then faded.

Tilly2

Question Author

Tony, do you have wild fuchsias in your garden?

tonyav

I don't know Yilly, not very good with flower identification.

gness

They don't have to be wild fuchsias.....ones that you haven't upset will do just as well.... ;-) x

Tilly2

Question Author

Well they will be upset if I pull their heads off!

gness

Then you'll have wild fuchsias.... :-) xx

Tilly2

Question Author

You're too clever for me!

tonyav

gawd, I'm dieing to say something about deflowering lol.

Tilly2

Question Author

This is a serious question, Yontav. Buzz off!

tonyav

Ohhhhhhhh, that was stinging, Yilly.

Tilly2

Question Author

I can be even more barbed.

tonyav

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jisNh8jP_g

Tilly2

Question Author

Can you find the Arthur Askey one Tony?

Not that I want to hear it. I'm just trying to keep you busy.

Psybbo

And out of mischief

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