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One need not view this as "damaging" the plants. It is also a crude signalling mechanism. The plants need the bees in order to survive as a species. If they're
by ISL 6y ago
One need not view this as "damaging" the plants. It is also a crude signalling mechanism. The plants need the bees in order to survive as a species. If they're able to feed the bees in times of famine, both the bees and the plants win.
Furthermore, a plant species that can help to feed bees during a pollinator-famine is a plant species that is going to get a lot of pollinator support.
- hinkley 6y agoI've heard that from an insect's perspective, witch hazel tastes terrible and/or isn't that nutritious. But it gets away with it because it's the only game in town. Nothing else is blooming at that time, and if you haven't gone dormant (or woke up too early) it's witch hazel pollen or nothing at all.