The other day while we were on our way home from Georgia, we stopped just outside Winston Salem, NC for a picnic lunch. We found a shady table that was clean enough and spread out our feast of ham sandwiches, baby carrots, cherries and chips.
After a while a bee began hovering over Dave’s lunch. At first we thought she was after a cherry so we set one aside for her. Nope. We tried a baby carrot. Nope. The pinch of whole wheat bread didn’t work either.
Finally we let her have her way and she landed on Dave’s sandwich and began to munch on the ham. She nibbled off a chunk and flew away.
We tore a bit off and put it on a paper towel to see if she came back. Sure enough, she did come back and brought a friend as well. Together they carved off rather big chunks of ham and flew off with them. I think that I shall never see a thing as kooky as a ham eating bee!
The first time I saw this was when I first moved to Washington. I watched one chew off a piece of sausage and fly away with it. Over here the meat eaters are called Digger Wasps or Ground Hornets and they make their nests in the ground. That same summer in late August several of us were stung for no apparent reason – kamakazee style. An old timer told us that late in the summer they munch on the fermented berries and prunes and get drunk, and will just sting (they bite, too) without provocation.
Wow! Who would have thought worker bees would go on a binge? BTW, Thanks for the Chicos top – wearing it now! Love you.