Please help the humble bumblebee

[FB.]

Johnny,

If you're thinking of drilling holes for orchard bees, I've found that they seem to prefer nests between 2-4ft above ground, with a variety of hole widths - from 5-9mm. Drill the holes to a depth of between 3 inches and 6 inches.
The smaller holes look too small, but they often seem to be the first to be used, despite the bees looking like they're too big to get into the hole!
Unused holes will provide homes for spiders, or winter shelter for ladybirds and the like. Sometimes solitary wasps will also nest in the holes, but there is very little risk of either the solitary bees, nor the solitary wasps attacking humans.

[Mcbee]

I think you can also use old bamboo canes, bound together. You can then put them in a frame. Buglife | Wildlife gardening | Make your own garden bee nest

As regards feeding bumble bees sugar and water, this would seem sensible, but there are reservations with using it. Beekeepers can feed honey bees with a sugar syrup (2lbs white granulated sugar to 1pt water) through a specially designed feeder. This is basically a tin that has a very fine mesh over part of the lid. The tin is inverted and the mesh is so fine it prevents the syrup from pouring out. However it is fine enough to let the bees draw it through. What feeds bees though also attracts other insects you might not want!!

Honey bees are only really fed in times of real nectar shortage and shouldn't be done frequently. There is a danger that if you feed the bees too much (say at the end of the year) they might be encouraged to start breeding again rather than starting to hibernate, as they think there is a food source around.This could end up doing more harm than good!

[BrideXIII]

I think you can also use old bamboo canes, bound together. You can then put them in a frame. Buglife | Wildlife gardening | Make your own garden bee nest

As regards feeding bumble bees sugar and water, this would seem sensible, but there are reservations with using it. Beekeepers can feed honey bees with a sugar syrup (2lbs white granulated sugar to 1pt water) through a specially designed feeder. This is basically a tin that has a very fine mesh over part of the lid. The tin is inverted and the mesh is so fine it prevents the syrup from pouring out. However it is fine enough to let the bees draw it through. What feeds bees though also attracts other insects you might not want!!

Honey bees are only really fed in times of real nectar shortage and shouldn't be done frequently. There is a danger that if you feed the bees too much (say at the end of the year) they might be encouraged to start breeding again rather than starting to hibernate, as they think there is a food source around.This could end up doing more harm than good!

so sugar water should ideally be used to attract/help them during the summer, or in this case early spring when there are not so many nectar producing plants about? although planting the flowers of course would be better.

thing is, what is causing the decline, the weather, lack of flowers, pesticides or a combination of all these?

[Johnny Appleseed]

Superb DIY tips guys

I have some old logs to drill holes in and I will also try the bamboo cane tip.

Too late for the hollow old stems tips this year - they are already in the compost bin - but next year I'll try this one as well.

Many thanks - great tips and links

[Mcbee]

To be honest , the sugar syrup is really a last resort. Its not a true substitue for good old nectar!! Beekeepers will only use syrup as a final option if they think that a hives food supply (honey) is running low. Honey is really nectar, that has gone through a process where the bees drive off moisture. This means that there is a sufficient sugar to water ratio that means the honey won't go off. have you noticed how honey only granulates rather than go mouldy, no matter how long you have it for? Its suppsed to have antiseptic / antibiotic properties and i know someone who always puts it on cuts etc.

I would imagine that the best option for helping bees is to try and plant things that flower at various times of the year, especially in the spring and autumn. The bees can them sort it out themselves.

As to why honey bees are declining, well i wouldn't know where to start! There are so many theories that i don't think anyone knows. Whatever the reasons, bees are wild and will react to the circumstances around them.

[Nicos]

Right....I'll certainly be taking this advice- a rewarding project eh??

Just a thought- Xmas pressie...a packet of seeds to help Bumble bees with a print out explanation of why you've chosen those seeds????

[di]

Right....I'll certainly be taking this advice- a rewarding project eh??

Just a thought- Xmas pressie...a packet of seeds to help Bumble bees with a print out explanation of why you've chosen those seeds????

Cheers Nicos!!!!Sounds like the perfect idea for some of the family that were getting a stick of sprouts!!!(I was going to give a few other homemadey/grown bits!!!Not quite so tight that sprouts was all they were getting!!)

[Polly Fouracre]

Saw Humble again this morning(at least I think it was the same one!) but resisted putting out an offering and told him you said so!!

[Birdie Wife]

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust website is very informative - you can find good bee plants on there too, for different times of the year. I'm a member already !