Feeding on laurel hedge?

[Mr greenwood]

A neighbour reported masses of bees on their laurel ( prunus laurocerasus ) hedge. Thinking there might be a swarm inside as it isn't in flower I went to look. Due to it being cooler today there are not so many bees flying but I noticed a few honeybees feeding on the back rib of the young leaves, also a wasp and a few bumbles. Any idea wether they are taking for propolis or sugary sap?

 

[Black Comb]

Laurel has extra floral nectaries. These produce nectar but are not flowers. Several other plants have them, e.g. Bracken.

 

[The Cumbrian]

Prunus laurocerasus has "extra floral nectaries" (extra in the sense of outside so extra floral outside the flower) along with a number of other Prunus species and these are exploited by honey bees.

 

[susbees]

Quite so...

...cherry laurel is a particularly good source even when not in flower.

 

[Mr greenwood]

Every days a school day. Cheers for sharing the knowledge.

 

[susbees]

Every days a school day. Cheers for sharing the knowledge.

Your eyes are your best educators with bees...(and much of what you see ain't in the text books - many of which are copied from each other without referencing).