Saw a honeybee last night...

jennigrey · #1 05/18/07, 11:29 PM

Might not seem too noteworthy for most folks but I hadn't seen a honeybee here since we first moved in ... OCTOBER OF 2005. I take casual notice of the species of insects I see, but I started actually *looking* for honeybees around mid-summer last year. This is the first one I've seen. It was sitting on a piece of canvas I'd hung over a board. I was going to take the canvas in with me when I went inside for the evening, but upon discovering the honeybee on it, I left it out overnight.

The bee was still there this morning. It took off sometime around midday.

I don't know if any of my neighbors keep hives. How far away are bees likely to wander from their home hive? Where do wild honeybees make their homes here in western Washington? Did this one just get caught out after dark and camp before returning home? Do they not travel at night? Was it on walkabout?

I have been encouraging some native cane berry bushes (don't know if they're raspberry or blackberry) that volunteered over the heap of stumps off by the treeline. I cut out all the Himalayan blackberry from the stump pile to give the native berries a chance. I think I will watch the blossoms more carefully now that I have seen a honeybee in the area!

sellis · #2 05/19/07, 12:36 AM

yes they can travel up to 5 miles , it probably got stuck there after dark and then took off to the hive as soon as it warmed up. the hives may bee in trees it could be a feral hive to .

muzzelloader · #3 05/19/07, 05:29 AM

I have a wild hive in a large hollow in a tree at the front of driveway. Every day they come to my bird bath for water.They appear to be one of the domestic types and are quite gentel. They will even land on me if I stand quietley near the bird bath.Am glad they are here as are good for the garden.

Wisconsin Ann · #4 05/19/07, 06:28 AM

If you've seen one bee, and you have blossoms/plants for them, they'll be back. The lone bee was probably scouting for new pollen sources. Once they find a good source, they stick around until it's exhausted.

As to where do wild bees live...hollow tree, attic of house, walls or floors of barns or old houses. Most likely tree, tho.

crafty2002 · #5 05/19/07, 07:14 AM

So far I have only saw a few and it's starting to worry me. I had squash and melon plants that came up pretty with flowers everywhere last year but didn't get didily squat from them.
Then with all the threads about the bees dyeing off and everyone talking about it, it makes me wonder if that wasn't the problem.
Between the different types of cukes, squash, cantalopes and water mellons I already have planted in the garden, there has to be close to 100 plants. I sure hope they do something this year. I'd hate to think they are going to just set there and eat up the room in the garden.

Dennis

Rita · #6 05/19/07, 08:30 AM

I remember when kids could hardly play on the lawn if it had a lot of clover there would be so many honeybees. We have a lot of clover this year and have not seen one honeybee!

Rory · #7 05/19/07, 02:02 PM

Saw on several weeks ago midday sitting on the picture of a vanilla blossom on the lid of a Dannon's yogurt container. Very cute! It hasn't been back, though.

Tricky Grama · #8 05/22/07, 01:56 PM

A few weeks ago we had thousands on our prickly ash trees that were in bloom-was so glad to see them!

Patty

MullersLaneFarm · #9 05/22/07, 03:51 PM

I'm thrilled that the new queen in my hive is laying brood!! WOOT!

abledrn · #10 05/23/07, 05:13 AM

The only bee I've seen here this year so far are big black bumblebees. Had honeybees last year tho. SE PA

vicki in NW OH · #11 05/23/07, 05:35 AM

Saw a swarm yesterday on the big light/sign post at an Auto Zone store of all places, which is located on the busiest street in town!

goatwishingstar · #12 05/23/07, 05:58 AM

feel very fortunate if you saw a honeybee, because their population in the united states is down by nearly 40%. i cant stress enough over how important they are to our lives. not only do they give us honey, but they pollinate all our plants, which gives us all our food, and so on. the problem is, too many commercial farms dont realize that all their harmful chemicals are killing the bees, and without the bees, you might as well not grow anything. if the whole bee population was to wipe out tomorrow, we would have 4 years left on earth before we starved to death, yes, bees are that important!!

SteveD(TX) · #13 05/23/07, 08:36 AM

I don't know if the loss is affecting N. Texas, but we have a back yard full of them with all of our flowers and sage bushes in bloom. No different than any other year as best I can tell.

Mutti · #14 05/23/07, 09:09 AM

A swarm in May is worth a load of hay...a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon....a smart beekeeper would have hustled on down to get a swarm; pkg. bees are super expensive anymore. My DH was lucky and our hives are doing good; we requeened. Talk of $15 for a qt. of honey!!!!!!! I wouldn't pay that! Didn't know we were raising a gold crop here. DEE

keltink · #15 05/23/07, 10:58 AM

I sold sourwood honey at $15 a quart last year, and might go higher this year. Pints were $8. Had my dark spring honey a bit cheaper.
Keeping bees and putting up honey is a heck of a lot of work, and sometimes you get stung by the little devils.
No, it's not gold, but how many vegetable producers get attacked by their produce? Lettuce doesn't bite, carrots are uniformly tame, broccoli never chases you across the garden, and it's unheard of to have a mass attack of tomatoes ...
I think our honey is worth every cent we charge, and probably more.

MullersLaneFarm · #16 05/24/07, 07:21 AM

LOL keltink!

We don't use any mitacides or antibiotics in our hives and don't heat treat it either. $15 a quart is more than a fair price for offering liquid gold