I think I read somewhere that heavy rain knocks nectar out of blooms and it takes 2 days for there to be more nectar available for the bees. Is this correct?
I believe so.
It has rained here everyday for over a week, I was thinking to give the girls some sugar/water. What do you think? should I or not? if so 1 part sugar to 1 part water or 2 to one? We have lost of blooms, tulip poplar, blackberries, privet hedge and a lot of others, I really feel bad that they may be missing it.
green
I tried a boardman feeder because I was concerned they was not getting enough nectar because of the rain and they really took the sugar water quickly, everyone says they will not take sugar water if they are getting nectar so I dont really know but I know that really took it quick
A heavy rain, that also knocks the petals off the flowers will knock the nectar out too.
Bees prefer to forage, they've been doing that for millions of years, taking syrup from a can or jar is only been happening for a little over 100 years. Which do you think the bees will do? They will take syrup and forage but if there is sufficient forage they may ignore the syrup or only take syrup on rainy days. You can get them to take syrup. I put a bunch of boardman feeders on boxes amid the blackberry vines and the bees take it the same as if foraging. It's only 50-75 feet from the hives but there is not robbing because of the forage type location, like seeing bees on the flowers next to the hive.