Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: MarkR on June 24, 2007, 03:44:53 PM

Title: Here's an odd question. . .
Post by: MarkR on June 24, 2007, 03:44:53 PM
In the past our lavendar has been visited by both honey bees and bumble bees.  This year, only bumbles. My (at least I'm fairly sure they're mine as I've followed a couple of them back to the hive) honey bees are all over my vegatable plants, and the white clover right now, but the bumbles seem to be leaving those flowers alone.  Do bumbles and honey bees just segregate themselves?  Is there some sort of competition thing going on?  Why wasn't this happening last year?  Granted, there seem to be fewer wild honey bees around this summer.  Last year I knew where three wild hives were, and now there is only one (that I've been able to find).  Anyone have any guesses?

Mark
Title: Re: Here's an odd question. . .
Post by: Jerrymac on June 24, 2007, 03:59:25 PM
They get together at the local insect meetings and figure out all sorts of ways to keep us guessing while all the time it is just them messing with us.
Title: Re: Here's an odd question. . .
Post by: MarkR on June 24, 2007, 04:20:38 PM
Hmmm, just as I suspected. . . .  :-D
Title: Re: Here's an odd question. . .
Post by: JP on June 24, 2007, 04:43:16 PM
I have seen bumbles and honeybees working the same flowers before, but not sure what's going on in insect politics right now, my teletransporter is on the blink. :shock:
Title: Re: Here's an odd question. . .
Post by: doak on June 24, 2007, 05:33:47 PM
Honey bees will pass over a minium nector to get to a better one.
Bumble bees are not that smart. :roll:
doak
Title: Re: Here's an odd question. . .
Post by: Dr/B on June 25, 2007, 01:00:49 AM
Last week I actually had bumblebees trying to rob my honey bee hives.  First time I've ever actually noticed this.  They were not successful, as the honey bees were all over them, repelling them like crazy.  ........................go figure?