Lastly, seven flower-stalks on a plant of
Dictamnus fraxinella were observed on the 15th of June 1841 during ten
minutes; they were visited by thirteen humble-bees each of which entered
many flowers. On the 22nd the same flower-stalks were visited within the
same time by eleven humble-bees. This plant bore altogether 280 flowers,
and from the above data, taking into consideration how late in the
evening humble-bees work, each flower must have been visited at least
thirty times daily, and the same flower keeps open during several days.
The frequency of the visits of bees is also sometimes shown by the
manner in which the petals are scratched by their hooked tarsi; I have
seen large beds of Mimulus, Stachys, and Lathyrus with the beauty of
their flowers thus sadly defaced.
PERFORATION OF THE COROLLA BY BEES.
I have already alluded to bees biting holes in flowers for the sake of
obtaining the nectar. They often act in this manner, both with endemic
and exotic species, in many parts of Europe, in the United States, and
in the Himalaya; and therefore probably in all parts of the world. The
plants, the fertilisation of which actually depends on insects entering
the flowers, will fail to produce seed when their nectar is stolen from
the outside; and even with those species which are capable of
fertilising themselves without any aid, there can be no
cross-fertilisation, and this, as we know, is a serious evil in most
cases.
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