Honey Bees and Hazel

[Kilmington]

I was walking past my two hives this afternoon and was rather alarmed to see a mass of bees circling a nearby hazel tree - I thought it must be a swarm given the number. However the bees did not seem to be interested in collecting together but to be collecting something from the leaves of the Hazel tree. The tree is just coming into full leaf - what are the bees after?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Does hazel have extrafloral nectaries?

 

[jackbee]

Does hazel have extrafloral nectaries?

i wqas thinking that but couldn't remember the term for it

 

[Lance Hutchings]

Aphids ?

 

[jackbee]

Aphids ?

bees are veggie though??

or do you mean their honeydew secretion - do bees collect that?

 

[BeeJayBee]

Aphids ?

bees are veggie though??

or do you mean their honeydew secretion - do bees collect that?

Probably the honeydew.

It's unlikely to be anything to do with Hazel flowers because they're out at the same time as catkins, so they get pollinated.