Of the many gorgeous herbaceous plants and flowering fruit trees, the buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) in our garden chose the blooming cabbage (Brassica oleracea) as their favourite nectar and pollen source this spring. Cabbage is a cross-pollinated crop, which means it is not capable of self-fertilisation, thus pollination via insects is one of the best ways for it to get fertilised. Despite their furry bodies, bumblebees buzz around the cabbage in the midday heat, along with other tiny bees (Lasioglossum sp.), honey bees (Apis mellifera), and some flies. (I think I could watch them all day.) Life is bustling on the cabbage. In addition to these pollinators, some small beetles (Meligetes sp.) also crawl on the flowers, dung flies (Scathophaga sp.) land on the petals and aphids suck the sap of leaves.
Check out the video linked to this post in 4K.
