Please Can We Have More Weeds?!
| Published: 15th October 2007 10:07 |
What Butterflies, Bumblebees and Honeybees need is nectar and pollen from flowers all through the year. Nectar is high-energy carbohydrate food that the bees need for flying. Pollen is protein food, mainly fed to young bee larvae (brood).
Honeycombe with larvae on the left and eggs on the right
The Queen bee lays her eggs carefully, one in each cell. The eggs slowly develop into larvae, and are cared for by newly emerged young bees, called nurse bees.
Weeds flower all year round. They may not make grand displays of petals, or grow where we want them; but they do make lots of free-flowing nectar, and high-quality pollen. In addition, their seeds and berries are good food for birds.
Viper's Bugloss
This roadside weed, known as Vipers' Bugloss, has a long flowering period. Here it is providing food, and being pollinated by skipper butterflies.
Article by Liz Kent.
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