Does too much rain=no bees?
I just realized that I haven't seen any bees this year. Maybe 1 or 2 in the last 2 mos. there are normally bumblebees all over the place getting to the clover in our yard. We haven't been seeing any at all. It has been quite rainy this year, even though now it is sunny during the day and raining in the evening, I wonder if all the rain in the spring messed with the bees and they died? could they have died because there was no food?
if you are not aware, the widespread use of pesticides has been implicated in a decline of bee populations. in the all too common quest to "kill all the bugs" the bees are not not fairing well - the pesticides kill the bees along with the "bad" bugs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/science/neocotinoid-pesticides-play-a-role-in-bees-decline-2-studies-find.html?_r=1
and
https://www.epa.gov/opp00001/about/intheworks/honeybee.htm
explain it in more detail.
it affects not only cultivated "hives" of for example honey bees - bumble bees and wild bees of every sort have been impacted.
there are other diseases / factors contributing to "bee colony collapse" which has raised considerable concern in the agricultural community.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/science/neocotinoid-pesticides-play-a-role-in-bees-decline-2-studies-find.html?_r=1
and
https://www.epa.gov/opp00001/about/intheworks/honeybee.htm
explain it in more detail.
it affects not only cultivated "hives" of for example honey bees - bumble bees and wild bees of every sort have been impacted.
there are other diseases / factors contributing to "bee colony collapse" which has raised considerable concern in the agricultural community.
we had REALLY rainy week at one point in the spring where we got 8 inches of rain over the week. and ever since it has rained nearly every day in some sort of fashion. there were a couple weeks where it only rained 2 or 3 days LOL.
I did see a honeybee yesterday. but man. usually this place is swarming with bumblebees makes me so sad. I liked my bumblebee friends.
I did see a honeybee yesterday. but man. usually this place is swarming with bumblebees makes me so sad. I liked my bumblebee friends.
- rainbowgardener
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