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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: picman on May 27, 2011, 19:34:53

Title: Bumble bees pollinating Broad Beans
Post by: picman on May 27, 2011, 19:34:53
My BB have masses of flowers this year , but the bumble bees are making holes in the back of the flowers for nectar and not doing the correct potentiating job...  I think its because of the dry spring , is it possible to stop them taking  a short cut ?  smaller bees seem to be following the correct job description !
Title: Re: Bumble bees potentiating Broad Beans
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 27, 2011, 19:36:07
Unfortunately it can't be stopped. Keep your fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Bumble bees pollinating Broad Beans
Post by: powerspade on May 28, 2011, 06:34:55
Same problem with me. I noticed this at the beginning of this week. I also have a mass of flowers in fact the most I have ever seen
Title: Re: Bumble bees pollinating Broad Beans
Post by: Jayb on May 28, 2011, 12:28:42
Short tongue bees can't reach to feed with broad bean flowers or runner beans etc so they bite a small hole to get to the nectar. Long tongue bees can reach so do the proper pollinate job.