Seeing more bees this spring.

[McCamy Taylor]

Could it be the lack of car smog?

[TexasTowelie]

1. I've noticed more bees around the shrubs at my apartment complex

along with some butterflies, including monarchs. There are also a lot of squirrels, cardinals, and a few rabbits around where I live.

[2naSalit]

2. One landed on my chest yesterday...

I was standing in the garden yet to be planted.

[MFM008]

3. Wants you to

Hurry and put in bee friendly plants....

[2naSalit]

6. I guided it to the daffoldils that survived the last snow. ...nt

[Tom Kitten]

4. Many more

Dozens of bees like this one lavender plant I planted last year. They like the sage and milkweed also, lots of monarchs and caterpillars do too. The Mexican purple sage attracts lots of hummingbirds. It's been a wet spring and the sudden hot weather is making flowers explode!

[sarge43]

8. Honey bees adore any flowering herbs. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

5. I've never seen a drop in bee population in my Podunk Sacramento Valley town

Honey bees are around my house EVERY day it's above 55°, year round, because something attractive to the bees is always blooming. Lots of bees.

[sarge43]

7. Things are looking up

Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2020, 04:57 PM - Edit history (1)

The varroa mite infestation seems to have run its course. The mites deform wings. The foragers bees can't fly, so no foragers, no food. They were one of the major cause of colony collapse. Feral bees which seem to have an immunity to the mites are cross breeding with hive colonies, so the defense could be spreading.

Africanized honey bees (so called killer bees) are also cross breeding with the standard varieties like Italians -- a win/win. More hardy, but a calmer disposition.