Wonder why

[JackM]

I just looked out the window at my beech tree and there are a lot of bees going from leaf to leaf, not particularly on any one part.  They have plenty of fresh water closer than this tree, the main blackberry flow is just starting, there are oooodles of sources of pollen.  Why are they interested in the beech?  Propolis?

[GSF]

Propolis would be my guess. It could be that the tree is dropping some type of nectar/resin/sap like pecans do at times.

[Dallasbeek]

That might be aphid honey dew.  Do bees go after that?  I know some ants herd aphids to get the honey dew (aphid excrement, actually;  I guess that's like they call 'em honey wagons in some places). 

Gary

[Kathyp]

I'll second the honeydew.  check the trees for sticky residue.

[Dallasbeek]

If you find the tree has aphids, pesticides will kill the adults, of course, but then we don't want to use things like Malathion or Seven, do we?  Those things kill bees. 

Look into horticultural oils.  I particularly like neem oil.  A small amount mixed with water ( :soapbox: :hissyfit: THE LABEL DIRECTION ON ANYTHING YOU APPLY TO ANY PLANT, okay? :piano: :soapbox:) will fight not only the adult, but the egg as well, by coating the breathing openings of the adult and preventing oxygen from getting to the egg, killing it.  Neem oil is the only thing I've found to get rid of aphids, whiteflies and most other insects and maybe arachnids (like spider mites).  It is an insecticide, miticide, fungicide and is organic and totally safe.  In India, they even have a toothpaste made with neem oil.  It works only on direct contact, so top and bottom surfaces of leaves have to be saturated.  There's no residual effect, so insects that appear after spraying are not affected

That's my Dallas County Master Gardener contribution for the day.

[Dallasbeek]

That should have read "READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS...". Somehow the words got lost

Gary

[Kathyp]

where do you buy it? 

[Dallasbeek]

Any garden store.  Rose Defense is one name used.  I think Black Flag makes that.  Look at labels until you find one with Neem Oil as the ingrediant.

[marktrl]

100% neem oil:
Neem Oil

[Kathyp]

thanks

[Dallasbeek]

Pesticides are like pharmaceuticals.  A company can get approval for something to use on roses, but can't say you can use it on vegetables until they get approval for the product for use on vegetables, for example.  So then they have to market it as two products -- one for roses, one for vegetables.  On and on.  The neem oil in Rose Defense is the same as the one in another product the same company markets for vegetables.  Just look for neem oil, then read and follow the label directions.  It's federal law.  Screwy, but that's the way things work.  The company gets to spend more money printing different labels for the same thing, the printer is happy and the USDA is happy.  Just be happy.  Don't Worry.  Something like that, anyway.