Bees?
 

Okay, have any of you noticed a serious decline in the bee population this year? I have Monarda (Bee Balm) in full bloom as well as other Bee magnet flowering plants. Last year I had all kinds of bees even a few native honey bees. This year there are like 3 bumble bees buzzing around. We had a very long hard winter here. Did they all die out?

Re: Bees?
 

Hard to say, we keep bees so there are lots of them around our place! :)

Re: Bees?
 

GMO plants are doing their job at killing off all the Bee's!

We have lots less bee's in my farming community too! I have noticed an increase in all kinds of other bugs though!

Re: Bees?
 

I can't say I've noticed a decline myself.

http://goldismoney.info/forums/pictu...&pictureid=898

http://goldismoney.info/forums/pictu...&pictureid=902

http://goldismoney.info/forums/pictu...&pictureid=903

Re: Bees?
 

Nice pictures.!!!!

Re: Bees?
 

Google "Colony Collapse Disorder"

this has been discussed months ago...

Also Varroa mites....

Re: Bees?
 

We seem to have more bees this year than in recent years past...

Re: Bees?
 

Thanks for the responses...I am glad to see you guys have bees. It was probably that this past winter was way too cold here. We reached low temps that haven't been this low since I have been alive. I thought native bees attacked Varroa mites? The modified bees don't which may be one reason for colony collapse disorder? Nice bee pics!!!!!

Re: Bees?
 

Varroa mites attack the bees.

There is a school of thought that since bees were 'modified' the mites are a danger.

Apparently the size bees were 'modified' (100?) years ago when keepers thought bigger bees were better. They made the comb cell larger and the bees formed cells based upon that size.

You can read about it here: http://www.heaf.freeuk.com/cell_size.htm

Bigger bees mean bigger vents for the mites to enter and attack....

Re: Bees?
 

Correct but I am referring to native non-modified wild bees?

Re: Bees?
 

Ah, I see now that is what you said!

Do you have a link? I've never heard of that, but if true...it could be the solution....

Re: Bees?
 

http://www.physorg.com/news157125509.html

http://nativeplants.msu.edu/pdf/E298...NativeBees.pdf

In past years have had so many bees and all different kinds in my flower gardens...now just a very few yellow jackets, wasps and a couple bumble bees. I just went outside to check. =(

Re: Bees?
 

That is fairly easy to change, it is called regression, bees that are allowed to build their own comb will make it a little smaller if you keep on cutting out the bigger cells.

Re: Bees?
 

I know few guys who (don't) haven't see any collapse,
granted they do bees in organic way,they don't rob bees to sell all honey and feed them with sugar water,they have plenty of flowers and parks around
I will start my bees in 2 months ( or sooner) ,friend is preparing 2 nucs for me
will post pictures and progress...