Strange Bees

[Petra]

Hey guys, Just wanted to share this with you.
I know bees are not pests but didnt know where else to post this.
These bees must be confused.
2mths ago after giving this peach tree a trim, i put some gluetac over the wound to heel as an experiment.
Yesterday whilst doing the rounds of watering, i saw this unusal behavier happening .I have never seen these bees on the plant before. Now that has thrown what was a good idea at the time, out the window.
Since the photos i removed the gluetac, as i didnt want to cause a catastrophy in the neighbourhood, incase there are hives around .

janry bonsaiBbee2011.jpg

janry bonsai2bee 2011.jpg

janry bonsai3bee 2011.jpg

[Pup]

Now when I have trouble getting the Honey out of the jar, I will know who to blame.

Pup

[Joel]

Where is garybee?

[Leevers]

If you cut down a pine tree, you'll have a lovely Bee infestation for months. They seem to love the sap! I assume they use it to build their nests or make honey. Unsure exactly :p

[Bretts]

Blue tack contains mineral oil. Food grade mineral oil is sprayed on hives to get rid of pests such as mites.
Made me wonder if the bees collect this themselves for the same reason?

Could not find much on this but this add for Eucalyptus Oil suggests to me that they do!
http://www.ojaivalleybeefarm.com/eucalyptus_page.htm

If you have any Eucalyptus Oil about Petra it would be interesting to put a little out in this area and see if they collect it

[shibui]

Bees make a substance called PROPOLIS (translates as 'for the city') that they use to plug up gaps and unwanted openings in the place they've chosen to build. I'd guess that these bees have discovered a ready made source of plug the gap compound and have taken advantage of it. As the others have already said bees gather natural saps and resins to make propolis, perhaps your gluetac has some compounds in it that are similar to those, perhaps they have just adapted to a new substance available in their range. I should try putting some out here to see if the propolis filling the spaces in my hives starts to get blue!
Interesting observation Petra.

[Petra]

Hey guys,
thanks for all your replys. And Brett ,your reserch is muchly appreciated, hadnt thought of analiseing the ingredients in gluetac.
Pup, gluetac in honey my prevent a costly service at the Dental surgery!