The Plight Of The Bumble Bee

[skycat 6,173]

Hardly seen any bumble bees around this year. Normally we have loads of nests in our garden, various types of bumble bees, solitary bees, masonry bees: all sorts. This year, haven't seen one yet. Bodes ill for their long term survival. Reckon its partly to do with last summer's endless rain so their nest holes got flooded out, then the long cold winter and long cold spring so not enough grub about for them if they had managed to survive hibernation.

Sad times for our bees. How about everyone else: got any bumbles round your way?

[baw 4,360]

Paulus has some, they're restructuring his house

 

I've seen some but not many. Not had good weather for long, I'd give them another week

[Malt 379]

Quite a few about the garden here over the last month or so...

 

 

Nice pun with the title BTW!

[Nik_B 3,790]

We see plenty but we're not in a rural area and most farm land round here is used for livestock rather than crops so that might help them a lot.

 

Seems those modern pesticides are really destroying the bee population.

[baw 4,360]

If the bee does, we die

[desertbred 5,490]

The plight of the bumble bee who composed it

[Frann 882]

Had one in my kitchen earlier, ive seen quite a few these last few weeks. Not seen many butterflies though

[Ratreeper 441]

Seen quite a few, but I haven't lived here a year yet so not sure how many there would be normally. Quite a lot of honey bees around which is good, but I will keep an eye out for bumble bees now

[Tiercel 6,986]

The plight of the bumble bee who composed it

Rip your corset off?

 

Back on topic though, see a few but not as many as usual.

 

TC

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Skycat; I believe there's some disease that's knocking bees over. Apiarists are reporting total melt down. Whole hives wiped out. I very much doubt it's species specific either, thus Bumble, Honey and Solitary, they're all copping it.

 

Then, of course, they have the badgers to contend with. Not looking good, is it?

[Paid 935]

here the bees are 1 month late, but this sun has bought them out now. Numbers do seem down though, the foxgloves are normally a hive of activity by now, but only seen red arses and bumble bees so far, no honey bees yet.

[NEWKID 27,159]

I think everything is a bit late this year, there was freezing easterly winds only a few weeks back, the suns out now though so hopefully summer is here...

Edited June 6, 2013 by NEWKID

[paulus 26]

i believe i have the last remaining stronghold of the masonry fooking bee, at least 5 nest that i know off,

[lurchergrrl 1,441]

We had a few early on in spring, then the weather went wonky and it got cold again. Not seen any since I'd know if they were any around ... Rigby chases them about, snarling like they're intruders bent on homicide

[sussex 5,777]

I was clearing up by my greenhouse this morning ,picked up an old growbag & there was a nest under it , gently replaced it so they should be ok . Up to that point hardly seen any just the odd one in the barn . The old boy down our track keeps a couple of hives & he recons its going to be a bad year , although he recons every year is a disaster , ten minutes with him & you loose the will to live ..