Ligustrums and Watermelon Crape Myrtles

[julysun]

This morning I saw many honey bees working Ligustrums (no blooms). Looked like they were working Aphids(?), nearby the bees were working a large, in bloom, watermelon color Crape Myrtle. First time for me to see bees working a not in bloom plant. Also a bit unusual to see bees working the Myrtles. Hot, wet summer here, many weeds blooming, my three hive's bees have been packing in the pollen, between rain showers.

[StewRoten]

Honeydew?

[julysun]

That must be what they are working because there are zero blooms. Got me to looking at blooming plants, later along the roadside I stopped to look at some wild blue flowers. Bumblebees were piercing the flowers at the base! Have read about that but is my first to see.

[AstroBee]

In our area, bees will work aphids during the dearth following the main spring flow. This honey can have very bad flavor with a strong aftertaste. My bees work Crape myrtle trees heavily for pollen. The pollen from the Crape myrtle comes a week prior to the nectar from the cotton plants and really give the bees a second wind.