Bees

AlittleSalt · April 12, 2015

On countless threads I have talked about the bees that have made our yard and one hollowed tree their home for years. They don't sting - or at least never have stung any of us. They're friendly. Just about every day, one will land on my shoulder and hitch a ride. Last year, I noticed for several days they flew in this huge round swarm. I would estimate at least a thousand bees (No exaggeration) The area of the swarm was around 20' tall and wide. It was loud too. I'm not sure of what kind of bee they are?

In the pictures below, they are on a hummingbird feeder that they have almost drained over the past three days. About 12 ounces of colored sugar water.

ginger2778 · April 12, 2015

Great very cool photos.

Worth1 · April 12, 2015

The swarm is a queen leaving the hive in the tree.
When there are two queens one leaves and some of the worker bees leave with her.
Inside the very middle of that wad of bees is the queen.
You can put your hand gently into the swarm and find the queen and put her in another hive.
She will be about three times bigger than the worker bees.
Tap on the hive and the other bees will go in and make a new hive.
The first hive we ever had was from a wild one in a hollow tree we cut down with an 8 foot cross cut saw.
We took the honey and the bees and all.

If you watch real close you will notice when the bee leaves it will make a straight line back to the hive.
Follow that line and you will find the hive.

Worth

beeman · April 12, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

. I'm not sure of what kind of bee they are?
In the pictures below, they are on a hummingbird feeder that they have almost drained over the past three days. About 12 ounces of colored sugar water.

Those are European Honey Bees. I bet the local bee keeper is wondering why his honey has a colour tint.
As an aside, that 'swarm' you saw was possible a mating swarm, a few thousand bees going with a virgin queen on her mating flight. Those drones (male bees) are really noisy in flight.

AlittleSalt · April 12, 2015

beeman, thank you. Yes very noisy.

AlittleSalt · April 12, 2015

The internet has problems tonight.

There is a hollowed tree about 50' behind our second garden. The bees have been living there for a decade or longer. We call it the "Bee Tree". I looked up the European Honey Bees, and yes, that's what they are.

tam91 · April 13, 2015

By the way, the coloring in the water is thought to be bad for hummingbirds. You don't need any color - just sugar and water.

AlittleSalt · April 13, 2015

Tam, I've read that too. We bought one of those just-add-water powders for hummingbird food from Walmart. I didn't realize it was going to be red. We're trying to get it used up. Normally, we boil 4 cups of water to one cup of sugar and no food coloring.

tam91 · April 13, 2015

Yes, just plain 'ol sugar water is perfect. No need to spend extra $$$ on commercial preparations.

Worth1 · April 13, 2015

Wow folks someone just got some Free Bees!!!!

I was outside painting and from the north east going to the south west a huge swarm flew over my house.
I heard something from the distance going bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and getting louder then it was real loud and then dropped off.
By they way that was the same route the Japanese bombed pearl harbor from.
Sounded like a bunch of tiny bombers and torpedo planes flying over.

Worth

Lindalana · April 14, 2015

What a lovely idea! I did not know one can use feeder for bees as well. Gotta get one now. Seen my first of the season bee today on blooming pulmonaria.

Stvrob · April 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindalana

What a lovely idea! I did not know one can use feeder for bees as well. Gotta get one now. Seen my first of the season bee today on blooming pulmonaria.

Yep. They also are good for feeding ants!

Worth1 · April 14, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stvrob

Yep. They also are good for feeding ants!

Where I live you put up a humming bird feeder and you start getting fire ants in no time.
I have so many plants that are dependent on humming birds and bees I wont put one up anymore.
I'm going to make the little devils work for it.

The bees and humming birds need to be out in the garden where they belong not hanging out for a free lunch.

Worth

AlittleSalt · April 15, 2015

Worth, I do something similar. I put out hummingbird feeders in early spring to bring in the bees and eventually hummingbirds. When the tomatoes start flowering, I quit refilling the feeders. Then I refill in August when it is so hot. I agree, make nature work for you, but help it out when it needs a little help.

Another way to look at that is like chumming out a fishing hole, but I don't think of it like that. I see it as baiting before and after natural food is available.

Worth1 · April 15, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Worth, I do something similar. I put out hummingbird feeders in early spring to bring in the bees and eventually hummingbirds. When the tomatoes start flowering, I quit refilling the feeders. Then I refill in August when it is so hot. I agree, make nature work for you, but help it out when it needs a little help.

When I say garden I dont mean just vegetables I mean all of the rest of my plants.

I have a Mexican bird of paradise that is going to put on the biggest show ever this year.

There are plenty of blooms to go around here most all of the year.

Worth

April 13, 2015	#7
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	By the way, the coloring in the water is thought to be bad for hummingbirds. You don't need any color - just sugar and water. __________________ Tracy

April 13, 2015	#9
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Yes, just plain 'ol sugar water is perfect. No need to spend extra $$$ on commercial preparations. __________________ Tracy

April 15, 2015	#14
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Worth, I do something similar. I put out hummingbird feeders in early spring to bring in the bees and eventually hummingbirds. When the tomatoes start flowering, I quit refilling the feeders. Then I refill in August when it is so hot. I agree, make nature work for you, but help it out when it needs a little help. Another way to look at that is like chumming out a fishing hole, but I don't think of it like that. I see it as baiting before and after natural food is available. Last edited by AlittleSalt; April 15, 2015 at 12:39 AM.

April 12, 2015	#2
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Great very cool photos.

April 12, 2015	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	The swarm is a queen leaving the hive in the tree. When there are two queens one leaves and some of the worker bees leave with her. Inside the very middle of that wad of bees is the queen. You can put your hand gently into the swarm and find the queen and put her in another hive. She will be about three times bigger than the worker bees. Tap on the hive and the other bees will go in and make a new hive. The first hive we ever had was from a wild one in a hollow tree we cut down with an 8 foot cross cut saw. We took the honey and the bees and all. If you watch real close you will notice when the bee leaves it will make a straight line back to the hive. Follow that line and you will find the hive. Worth

April 14, 2015	#11
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	What a lovely idea! I did not know one can use feeder for bees as well. Gotta get one now. Seen my first of the season bee today on blooming pulmonaria.