Bees do this when the flower isn't wide enough for them to get to the nectar.

Nope - they have been doing it with the large bell shaped flowers also. I watched because that's what I thought was happening too. Even flowers big enough for the bumblebees to enter have gotten this treatment nine times out of ten here.

Any thing else unusual about this summer in your area? Drought, excessive heat or coolness, humidity?

Is it late season behavior to collect remnants?

We have been in and out of drought with high temperatures here late in the season but I have been noticing this ever since the plants started blossoming this year. Come to think of it though, I don't see as high of a pollen production this year in many of the hostas. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Hi Gary,

i've observed the same behaviour so looked it up. It seems that the bees are cheating by collecting the nectar through the side door. Once the hole is there other bees will use it too. Bees that are collecting pollen will still go through the regular way and pollinate for you.

Thanks ConnieMay, That makes sense as I'm still getting a large number of seed pods.