I live on a lake and I get my bees this May, 2016. It's pretty natural for bees to take water from lakes right? (Heard stories about bees drowning in pools) should I prepare small containers of water with floating wood, water feeder, etc, anyway?
Thanks!
Art
They'll be fine with the lake water; they'll likely get water from there even if you didn't want them to - so no, you shouldn't need to provide them with a water source and even if you did, they'll more than likely ignore it.
I live on a big lake. The bees don't drink directly from the lake, but rather from where waves splash up on the rocks and docks. A lot of them drown when waves catch them, but there's no way to stop them from getting water there even if you wanted to.
I have a one acre pond at my farm. The first year we owned it the commercial bees parked their hives right next to it during a drought. The bees were all over the 1 foot area around the pond. The buzz was really loud, you could not walk to the waters edge with out stepping on bees. They normally like to get their water from the mud near the edge without touching the wave area.
This happens every year. The hotter/drier the weather the more they collect around the pond.
Jim
Thanks!
That would make sense if they gradually could creep up on the water as oppose to a kiddie pool where it's more difficult and end up drowning.
Art
My bees just LOVE the stack of black plastic plant potting containers. Rain & snow collect in the rim when they are set upside down. I have a waterer, but they ignore it anytime the pots are wet. The black color makes the water warm - just the way they like & need it. I've started refilling the stack, seeing as how they prefer it over almost everything else.
Colobee,
I suspect the heat may have a lot to do with it also.
The water in the mud is warmer than the lake water. If a bee sucks up cold lake water, she will chill her wing muscles and not be able to fly.
I now suspect they use the water in the mud for safety and temperature.
Jim
Quote from: sawdstmakr on March 11, 2016, 11:57:12 AM
I now suspect they use the water in the mud for safety and temperature.
... and maybe the minerals too. Bees love anything salty - although some folk say it's not good for them.
I remember lambing 300 ewes over in Ireland - when I was a lot fitter than I am now (!) - and used to watch ewes licking the dirt for the minerals in it, despite having being given a proprietary mineral 'lick'.
Ain't nature clever ... !
LJ
I was just reading up on this more the other day. One article said the bees will remember the scent of a lake and return to it. The water with a bad stench is actually easier for the bees to find. Eew!
They also go for wet gooey cow turds. :shocked:
Jim
Ok... I'll try my best to keep those away from them!