But I can't seem to make the bees drink....I have birdbaths, pond and watering trays with rocks between 5 and 50 feet of the new hive... And no major activity at any. No nearby neighbors have pools and I've checked with everybody around and no one is seeing activity at any nearby water sources. I have 100% happy neighbors that have adopted the girls into the neighborhood so no secrecy here lol.... It's stil dry season here in the Keys and we aren't getting regular rain yet but it hasn't been unbearably hot either upper 80's and it has been breezy.... Should I be concerned they are mobbing someone's pool further away or could it be they just aren't needing a lot of water yet??
If they need water they WILL get it somewhere. Making sure they have it provided is good, but as stated, you can lead a bee to the water but you cant make it drink....
Key Largo... They can get the water they need ANYWHERE!!! :cool:
Here in Central Arkansas I bait my water buckets with a little sugar syrup and a drop of lemon grass oil to get them started then I wean them off to plain water.
Once they locate the water source it's good for the rest of the season.
I've also found that the bees prefer a white bucket over colored ones.
Once they are used to a source, they tend to be loyal to it until it gives out...
Great... My pools not giving out any time soon :(
Other water issues:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeswater.htm
Between the creek that runs about 25 feet from my hives and my pond that is about 100 yards away from my hives bringing in water isn't usually a problem for me.
Keep in mind, if they have a good flow on, they are not going to need a lot of water. Especially if you have cool sea breezes to keep the hive temperature down.
Jim
My, nuc didn't find the water,i provided for them until 6 weeks,and it's a white 12x10x8"deep with big rocks,once they found the source they wanted,there's about 10 or so bees drinking. :) at all times
Bees can get water about anywhere, from a drippy outdoor faucet to drain water from A/c units and dew on the morning grass.
Thanks for all the replies.....I still haven't seen any concentrated activity around any of my "placed" water sources but they are still taking a lot of 1:1 sugar syrup since they weren't installed until May 30th (darn you rainy nasty late spring weather) so that may be where they are getting their water. Also we did just lay down sod and have been watering daily so its possible they are getting water from the over watering and other non tended sources.