Foraging behaviour of honeybees at the leaf nectaries of the fern, Pteridium aquilinum

The leaf nectaries of Pteridirlm aqrlilinum are known 10 produce sugars, which attract honeybees. The nectarines were observed to attract many bees during the summer despite the presence of many traditionally good bee plants, e.g. Calluna vulgaris, and no observable nectar production by the fern. Nectar-gatherers seemed to follow fixed and learned patterns of behaviour.