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Bees & heatwaves research

CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
in Wildlife gardening
In case anyone would like to sign up to this, has Dave Goulson's (founder of Bumblebee Conservation Trust) support:

https://www.thebuzzclub.uk/bees-heatwaves

Posts

  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    There is certainly a massive drop in bees where I am. Plants like geranium, linaria, alium and salvia are usually heaving and rumbling by now - but there is hardly any life to be seen. It's very strange to see and unnerving.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's hot here - 30C already - and yet the bees are buzzing in the wisteria's second flush of flowers and in the Dame Edna gladioli and the assorted dahlias I have in my cutting garden.  In fact so much buzzing I hardly cut the flowers at all, just leave them for the bees.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    This is the kind of stuff they want to hear about @SalixGold - are bees definitely declining?
    I've got an open flowered rose and they were mad for it this morning, the bush was buzzing! Heartening to see.
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    Crazybeelady said:
    are bees definitely declining?


    I've only got visual impressions to go on at the moment - not having done a formal count before - but the absence is pretty striking to me this year. I imagine that heatwave last year, drought this year and last, cold snap and a late spring this year has taken a toll in places.

  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    I agree that they're declining, even if there are the odd bursts of them about. These kind of surveys help to gather actual evidence rather than anecdotal info. Judging from June so far this year, I dread to think what July and August have to offer 😣.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have about 60ft of cotoneaster hedging about 15ft tall.
    There are so many bees on the flowers it sounds like an electricity substation.
    My neighbour asked if I had a wasp nest - I don't, it's just all the bees.
    But generally there aren't the number of bees around that there used to bee :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    There seem to be plenty of bees around here. I think the bumblies have a nest somewhere in the back of my shed - much coming and going through a broken bit near the bottom of the door.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    Crazybeelady said:
    I agree that they're declining

    Trends can be very localised and seasonal. I wouldn't be surprised if gardens on the other side of town are buzzing
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