The bees seem to be gone

[Kaleva]

The bee balm and hollyhocks in the flower bed and the white clover and dandelions in the yard are devoid of bees.

[Chainfire]

1. They are thin here too

My plum and pear trees did not produce this year and I believe it is due to the lack of pollicization. I do believe however that if I could train the mosquitos, gnats and yellow flies to pollinate, then I would have bumper crops.

[flying_wahini]

2. Mine are scarce, still some hangers on. Gonna put out more water trays for them today.

Probably at the hive trying to fan enough to keep the queen alive. Gonna be 110* today.

[Ocelot II]

3. Might be a local thing, I have a lot of them in my bee balm and others.

[CrispyQ]

4. We have fewer bees than previous years

& significantly fewer birds of all types.

[samnsara]

5. our honey bees have been replaced by bumble bees! are they pollinators?

[getagrip_already]

6. Yes, bumbles will pollinate.... n/t

[getagrip_already]

7. I'm a beekeeper......

Right now where we are there has been a "dearth", meaning the flowers aren't producing nectar. That can happen due to plant cycles or drought.

When in a dearth, my bees just hang out and beetch. They are grumpy, bored, and have little to do.

It could just be your area needs a good rain (or less rain ironically).

It's not necessarily that something happened to the pollinators.

[MuseRider]

9. Interesting and thank you!

I have a farm. I have only 30-40 acres in hay grass but I have left the rest of the 50 odd acres to grow trees and all manner of wild flowers and several ponds, one big one. It is odd that the last 2 years I have seen few Honey bees and many Bumble bees. I let things grow that they like that other grass farmers try not to let grow and I can barely walk through one of my horse pastures without being surrounded by the bees.

Thanks for this information. My little corner of Kansas has had plenty of rain but we are getting ready to be 110+ next week. I will be happy that the bees had what they did but I have little faith there will be much of it left after this. 100+ this week, 110+ next week. I hope the NOAA article I read was more speculation than real.

A few years ago I tried to locate where the honeybees hive was. I found their drinking spot in one of the ponds and for a long while tried to follow them. They are very interesting. Thank you for the info.

[Kaleva]

10. That is interesting!

[Bluethroughu]

8. I noticed a significant difference in the amount of bees this year.

I have all kinds of gardens they and the butterflies love, but I had very few visitors this year from both.

My house is usually a huge sanctuary for these pollinators.

I'm in northern Illinois.

[Botany]

11. Stuff

Figworts .... early and late and you will get all kinds of bees and pollinators

Smooth Sumac

Milkweed

Bluestem Goldenrod

Asters

This book is the stuff.



Doug Tallamy's books are great too.

BTW I'm an expert in this stuff.

[Kaleva]

12. Thanks!