Black Fly, Bees and Hoverflies

[Sue]

I've got black fly on my cherry tree's new growth and there are a few ladybirds around but I've noticed that the blackfly are attracting bees etc. Do they collect the honeydew as well as ants?
Sue

[Two_Sheds]

they could well be eating the honeydew if they aren't getting enough nectar, if they are starving. BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Bees seeking 'sugary' garden pest

Do you have lots of flowers for the bees?

[FB.]

I have seen bees stopping for a lick of aphid honeydew. I suppose that it's an easy meal. That's why ants farm aphids.

[Sue]

Two Sheds
More tragic news on bees, perhaps it was a quick snack? (she said with more hope than judgement).
I've got a lot of flowers growing on the allotment and have made a huge effort this year to keep flowers growing from the first bulbs right through to late autumn. At the moment they've got lavendar, mock orange, lupins, roses, campanulas, saxifrages, hardy geraniums, daisies, lilies, pea blossom, chamomile, borage, blackberry blossoms, raspberry blossoms and all the cucumber, squash and courgette flowers to choose from!
Sue