What are they after?

[Skyhook]

After seeing almost no bees in my garden this year, today I saw lots- on a laurel hedge, with of course no flowers yet. This was about 5 pm, when it had rained up to about 2pm. They appeared to be feeding along the back of the leaves, so I could only think of honeydew- but I couldn't see any aphids, and anyway, laurel is almost insect-proof containing cyanide as it does. They were bumble bees doing the same thing, and later I saw the bumble bees checking out a beech hedge.

 

[Cazza]

Hi Skyhook
My bees do this every year, as do wasps and this week I spotted a hornet too.
I have idly wondered what they are collecting but have no answer. I agree - no aphids so not honey dew. Laurel leaves are waxy, is it that?
Cazza

 

[birchdale]

Laurel, like some other plants, has extra floral nectaries. These are on the back of younger leaves in laurel - have a peep and you will see tiny pearls of nectar on the nectaries near the main rib of the leaf. The accepted theory for the extra floral nectaries is that it maintains the balance of water and sugar in the plant. EFN also help as a defensive mechanism, nectar from the EFN are attractrive to ants.
Other plants that have EFN are: broad bean, cherry and plum.

 

[victor meldrew]

Laurel, like some other plants, has extra floral nectaries. These are on the back of younger leaves in laurel - have a peep and you will see tiny pearls of nectar on the nectaries near the main rib of the leaf. The accepted theory for the extra floral nectaries is that it maintains the balance of water and sugar in the plant. EFN also help as a defensive mechanism, nectar from the EFN are attractrive to ants.
Other plants that have EFN are: broad bean, cherry and plum.

I guess you have done the modules as I

John Wilkinson

 

[Skyhook]

Thanks Birchdale. I would never have guessed that one!

 

[Cazza]

That makes a great excuse for not trimming my laurel hedge just yet!
I can postpone the ordeal for the sake of the bees
Cazza

 

[margob99]

birchdale, you've answered a mystery I've pondered about for over a year, when I watched a single bee work her way slowly and methodically up and down the main rib on the underside of one leaf after another on my laurel hedge. I was intrigued and fascinated, and initially thought she must be collecting water in the form of dewdrops.

Extra floral nectaries. Who'd've thunk?!