Bees

[JoanneF]

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Well, one in particular. Or one type maybe. But over the last couple of days we have been seeing a very disoriented bee in the garden. I've put him on to high pollen plants a couple of times, but he keeps ending up on our slabs.

Any ideas on helping him?

 

[JudyN]

Ooh, bombus hypnorum, tree bumblebee, I think You could try giving it a drop of sugar water. Not in anything it could drown in, obviously - maybe a spoon.

 

[Inka]

I would say the same as JudyN...they can become disorientated/confused when chemicals used on plants take over their nervous system .. however there is also a fly parasite called Apocephalus borealis which lays its eggs in a living bee, turning the insect into a live host meal for its offspring which means the bee will fly away from it nest and will be disorientated before it dies
This is an interesting read How to help a bee in distress - Honey Bee Suite

 

[JoanneF]

Thank you. I hope it isn't the parasite, that sounds like a horrible death.

 

[JudyN]

Thank you. I hope it isn't the parasite, that sounds like a horrible death.

When you start delving into the world of bugs and their parasites, you learn stuff tht can give you sleepless nights. And then when you do drop off, you dream of zombie cockchafers....

 

[Inka]

Thank you. I hope it isn't the parasite, that sounds like a horrible death.

........ and now we know where these TV/film script writers get their ideas for their horror films!

 

[Inka]

Apocephalus borealis is not the only issue the Varroa mite a tiny parasite cling onto the bee and suck the blood like fluid from its body. If that isn’t horrifying enough, they also spread viruses through the colony....then there is the small hive beetles which lay massive amounts of eggs in the unprotected combs, when the worker bees are out. Their egg hatchlings grow up faster than aliens in a horror movie, only to lay more eggs in the combs and eventually the bees/hive is gone. The wax moth chew through the honeycombs, leaving behind a thick, silky web that can destroy a hive in as little as a week....not to mention Pesticide poisoning, Pollination , Mono cropping.... and a fun fact there are nearly 20,000 species of bees and that only a few of them make honey

 

[JudyN]

there are nearly 20,000 species of bees and that only a few of them make honey

Twenty-four of which I've spotted in my garden and managed to identify. Solitary bees in particular are a pig to id so I also have a load of photos of unidentified ones!

 

[Inka]

I find Bees facinating little 'beings'

 

[Hemlock]

I love 'em. But it's tough being an insect, and there is so much that eats them.

Sounds of summer that you don't hear much nowadays - a push-along lawnmower, the humming of bees, and a game of village cricket not far away "bok - howzat -"

 

[JudyN]

I hear the humming of bees alright - a neighbour has a couple of hives, and we had a swarm in the garden yesterday. I was delighted when he first moved in, but I've realised now the extent to which they compete with other species and actually reduce numbers of 'wild' bees.

 

[RGC]

Fox cubs playing in the garden at twilight and relocating plastic pots.

 

[Hemlock]

"A swarm in May is worth a load of hay. A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon. A swarm in July isn't worth a fly". You just made it!

 

[Inka]

"A swarm in May is worth a load of hay. A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon. A swarm in July isn't worth a fly". You just made it!

I had never heard of that

 

[JudyN]

Oh wow... I thought the bees swarmed yesterday, but they were just warming up...

Naturally, you'd have to be a complete idiot to go and stand right in the eye of the swarm, so to speak, and take photos... It seems I'm an idiot (Mr N has just told me I am so it must be true). But it was quite elemental, standing there with them seething around me. I felt a few brush against me, but didn't get stung.

I did give Jasper his tea indoors, though. I'm not that much of an idiot!

 

[Hemlock]

Sensible!

If you phone the police, they keep a list of beekeepers, and one will come out and take your swarm away, assuming it's still there.

 

[Finsky]

Oh wow... I thought the bees swarmed yesterday, but they were just warming up...



View attachment 111979836 View attachment 111979837

Naturally, you'd have to be a complete idiot to go and stand right in the eye of the swarm, so to speak, and take photos... It seems I'm an idiot (Mr N has just told me I am so it must be true). But it was quite elemental, standing there with them seething around me. I felt a few brush against me, but didn't get stung.

I did give Jasper his tea indoors, though. I'm not that much of an idiot!

As alarming swarm of bees might look, standing next to one...or even amongst it is quite 'safe'. As the bees prepare to swarm and leave the hive for a search a new place to live, they will take some of the food stores with them by filling their bellies with honey. Tummies full of honey is when they are as calm as they come....and not only that, it is then physically difficult for them to bend their bodies for stinging position. As honey bee die for the result of stinging us..they don't tend to do it without a good reason. So newly emerged swarm has the least will to get into a 'fight' with you.....wait another few days and that swarm might have totally different attitude if they are struggling to find suitable place themselves, desperation and hunger can make them behave quite differently...

ETA...little story to add; some years ago....I was called to collect a swarm from the top of shopping centre roof. Because I was sure it wasn't a swarm from my hives that I was keeping nearby....I wore a suit for 'just in case' (but still wearing my sandals ). I had arranged to security men to keep people away from the service yard bellow...but they failed to keep themselves away
Bees were hanging in difficult place for me to scoop them into carboard box I had armed myself with...and with the weight of the large swarm, the box slipped from my fingers and dropped onto the yard several stories bellow me . You can imagine what happened when box of bees slam from that height onto concrete floor....there was a storm cloud of bees flying in that closed up area.
No bees that I could tell was killed.....no security men were stung...the bees just buzzed around for a while and settled again on one of the building walls. This time for much easily to reach place and I was able to work safely from the ground level
The whole thing was witnessed by people in nearby office building and somebody took photo of me just before the accident happened...I only found out about it when it was posted on local paper

 

[Finsky]

Sensible!

If you phone the police, they keep a list of beekeepers, and one will come out and take your swarm away, assuming it's still there.

Or by going on BBKA website (British beekeepers association) where one can find out how to get in touch with somebody who does collect swarms...
Not many places have 'local police' anymore as the areas are merged together...so details do get lost or are being ignored.
Although swarms are considered as 'anybody's property' once they have left their premises...it is good thing to notify nearby beekeeper(s) that one may know having bees nearby, they will quite likely know if their bees have swarmed and are quite likely keen to have them back.

 

[JoanneF]

@Finsky, that's quite a story! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hemlock]

Thanks for the updated info, Finsky