Just one more reason it's vitally important that we stop unnecessary pesticide use, especially on residential lawns, since those poison such absolutely essential pollinators as our native ground-dwelling bees, which have evolved to tolerate our long cold and snowy winters, unlike the introduced honey bees that must have warm days in winter to survive. All those perfect suburban lawns spell disaster for agriculture as well as for the natural environment.
Well, last time Matt looked, the two out of three hives still had bees and one hive they flew off. Hopefully they stick around and we get honey this year. I will let you know!
I have seen one honey bee all spring. My blueberries were alive with bees when blossoming a month ago, but not one of them was a honey bee. Never seen that before.
Rebekah, where, oh, where did spring go? It is so cold here.
Lisa, I really hope they came through the winter. I thought of you guys when I read the article.
FC, it has been like that for several years up here. We have lots of ground bees, which although they are vicious little buggers are good pollinators, but I think I only saw three or four honey bees all summer last year. I miss them... a lot kinder and gentler than the native bees.
Cathy, same here. There are so many native pollinators, that despite the almost complete absence of honey bees the past few years, our big apple tree just buzzes when it is in bloom...provided of course that we get a little warm weather.
Just one more reason it's vitally important that we stop unnecessary pesticide use, especially on residential lawns, since those poison such absolutely essential pollinators as our native ground-dwelling bees, which have evolved to tolerate our long cold and snowy winters, unlike the introduced honey bees that must have warm days in winter to survive. All those perfect suburban lawns spell disaster for agriculture as well as for the natural environment.
ReplyDeleteWe got 2 inches of snow here in Michigan today. I'm so ready for warm weather! Rebekah
ReplyDeleteWell, last time Matt looked, the two out of three hives still had bees and one hive they flew off. Hopefully they stick around and we get honey this year. I will let you know!
ReplyDeleteI have seen one honey bee all spring.
ReplyDeleteMy blueberries were alive with bees when blossoming a month ago, but not one of them was a honey bee.
Never seen that before.
WW, I certainly agree with you on that.
ReplyDeleteRebekah, where, oh, where did spring go? It is so cold here.
Lisa, I really hope they came through the winter. I thought of you guys when I read the article.
FC, it has been like that for several years up here. We have lots of ground bees, which although they are vicious little buggers are good pollinators, but I think I only saw three or four honey bees all summer last year. I miss them... a lot kinder and gentler than the native bees.
Geeze. Poor little bees :-(
ReplyDeleteI'm just learning about the native bees. I had no idea there were so many species and how different they are from honey bees in their reproducing.
Really interesting.
Cathy, same here. There are so many native pollinators, that despite the almost complete absence of honey bees the past few years, our big apple tree just buzzes when it is in bloom...provided of course that we get a little warm weather.
ReplyDelete