Hi all.
I'm responding to a recent thread about lime (basswood) which may have
poisoned bees. George Ayers, in a July 1993 article in ABJ (available online
at http://www.ent.msu.edu/abj/jul93.html) describes several European species
of Tilia as 'sometimes toxic to bees'. This is supported by Ted Hooper,
'Guide to Bees and Honey', according to which T. petiolaris and T. orbicularis
'have been known to poison bees in some seasons'. EB Wedmore, in 'A Manual
of Beekeeping' says that T. tormentosa and T. petiolaris 'should be avoided'.
Regards,
Robert Brenchley
[log in to unmask]