[makedoandmend]

Folks,

I noticed ants climbing my broad beans and didn't really think much of it.

Since then many of the flowers have dropped, like blossom drop in tomatoes, with no beans. The bees are pretty busy in the garden so I don't think pollination, or lack of, is the problem.

Looking at the base of the flower there is a hole eaten into each flower.

I'm wondering if the ants have cause some damage to the flower preventing pollination taking place despite the busy bees. It seems such a pity because I had masses of flowers which aren't going to be reflected in the crop.

Any ideas welcome.

[waxwing]

I seem to remember reading some where that the ants milk the blackfly :blink:
Need to look it up, or was it a dream


Steve

[waxwing]

I had read it, it wasn't a dream

Hope this helps

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17535.0;topicseen

Steve

[Aunt Sally]

There is a naughty bee who's tongue isn't long enough to reach into broad bean flowers so the bite a hole in them to reach the pollen but they don't pollenate the flowers.  So... NO beans

I'll see if I can find some info on that. 

[Aunt Sally]

Same question in 2007

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=4882.msg56159#msg56159

[mumofstig]

The hole in the flowers is caused by short tonguedbees eating into the flower to get the pollen, rather than approaching through the flower. It happenend on mine as well this year

Some short-tongued bees have a trick for reaching this nectar, however: they cut small holes at the base of the flower, so they can drink the nectar directly instead of reaching through the flower. But this is of no advantage to the plant, because nectar is consumed with no movement of pollen.

from http://library.thinkquest.org/17456/flowersall.html

sorry AS I missed previous posts

[Aunt Sally]

You didn't look at my link above did you Mum 

[plum crumble]

glad we've got an Aunty and a Mum on this site - they ain't 'arf clever.....

[makedoandmend]

Well, if it's not one thing it's another!

I thought that plenty of bees was a good thing!. I have no blackfly this year, so it's not a 'farming' issue.

Glad I know the answer Aunt Sally, but not so sure I know how to sort it - too many beans to get the tickling brush out!

Thanks everyone!

[makedoandmend]

Perhaps that bee needs renaming Bombus Terrorist!!

Has anyone tried planting flowers that would satisfy this bumble bee's appetite so that they give the broad beans a miss?

My household has a massive broad bean consumption and there'll be trouble if there's not enough!

Thanks

[Aunt Sally]

Has anyone tried planting flowers that would satisfy this bumble bee's appetite so that they give the broad beans a miss?

That's a good idea !