Bees

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Discussion

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,044 posts

168 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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More of them in the garden this year smile

GAjon

3,804 posts

220 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Made a couple of bee cafes out of cheese pots with sugar water in.
I keep finding them knackered on the patio, give them a little light refreshment.

(Was going to say a bee petrol station so I could get a BP joke in)

Zirconia

36,010 posts

291 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Water, always water out. I have a few and the bees are loving it. No pest control either, got bumbles taking aphids this year.

Joscal

2,223 posts

207 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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What is a bee cafe out of interest? I'd like to encourage them as long as wasps don't take advantage.

bobski1

1,855 posts

111 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Found an underground bumble bee next when dismantling a shed but I think they may have disappeared as it's been a while since i've seen then.
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There is another one somewhere in the neighbours wall as I've seen them going in/out from under the soffit board.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

291 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Joscal said:
What is a bee cafe out of interest? I'd like to encourage them as long as wasps don't take advantage.
If tithe same as me, the stones in the water? Allows the bees to get a slurp without falling in.

GAjon

3,804 posts

220 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Zirconia said:
Joscal said:
What is a bee cafe out of interest? I'd like to encourage them as long as wasps don't take advantage.
If tithe same as me, the stones in the water? Allows the bees to get a slurp without falling in.
That’s it, just a shallow dish, some stones and sugar water.
Those In the pic are from the Aldi cheese melt dip pots you put in the oven.

It’s not a proper cafe, don’t do breakfasts or anything!

Joscal

2,223 posts

207 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Lol at breakfast!!!!

Excellent I'll give that a try.

Cheers

Simpo Two

87,083 posts

272 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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GAjon said:
Made a couple of bee cafes out of cheese pots with sugar water in.
I keep finding them knackered on the patio, give them a little light refreshment.

(Was going to say a bee petrol station so I could get a BP joke in)
You'd have to include a toilet if you want bee pee.

Pothole

34,367 posts

289 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Don't leave them sugar water. They don't need the sugar and it could mess up their natural feeding and pollination cycles. That quote was misattributed to David Attenborough as a quick Google will tell you.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

291 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Must admit I had never considered sugar water (especially for Edgar).

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

138 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Pothole said:
Don't leave them sugar water. They don't need the sugar and it could mess up their natural feeding and pollination cycles. That quote was misattributed to David Attenborough as a quick Google will tell you.
You are correct, seems like its ok for a bee that is drained of energy, but not good to leave out for all bees to drink. If you want to help lots of bees then plant suitable flowers in your garden instead.

Where a teaspoon of sugar can help revive a single collapsed bee, by leaving a readily available sugar water solution is the equivalent of mass feeding the insects junk food. Its full of carbohydrates which will give them an energy burst, but has no other nutritional value unlike the food they should be having
It will not feed the growing larvae when it is taken back to the hive.
And because the sugar water is easier to get, they will flock to the solution rather than forage for nectar.
Honey bees will end up storing this as honey in the hive.
“It’s a nice thing to do and it makes people feel good about themselves, but it’s only a short term solution for a bee. “You’re giving it a sugar buzz, but what they really need is nectar.

GAjon

3,804 posts

220 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Well, that’s me told!

What about lager?

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,044 posts

168 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Bee in my garden plays rugby for Wasps, only in the B team though. getmecoat

baconsarney

Original Poster:

12,044 posts

168 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
quotequote all
baconsarney said:
Bee in my garden plays rugby for Wasps, only in the B team though. getmecoat
Being serious though this increased bee activity is brilliant, makes me smile every time I see another one...

Joscal

2,223 posts

207 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Pothole said:
Don't leave them sugar water. They don't need the sugar and it could mess up their natural feeding and pollination cycles. That quote was misattributed to David Attenborough as a quick Google will tell you.
I’ll just leave them bee then

bobski1

1,855 posts

111 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Joscal said:
Pothole said:
Don't leave them sugar water. They don't need the sugar and it could mess up their natural feeding and pollination cycles. That quote was misattributed to David Attenborough as a quick Google will tell you.
I’ll just leave them bee then
I can't bee-lieve that it's bad for them to give sugar water

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

138 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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bobski1 said:
I can't bee-lieve that it's bad for them to give sugar water
I don't think it is bad for a bee you find thats drained of energy, but not good to leave it out for any and all healthy bees.

V8RX7

27,675 posts

270 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Certainly are in mine - 4 nests !



Zirconia

36,010 posts

291 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2020
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Had some carder bees set up nest once, no takers on my bee house though. Need more insect friendly towers.