Do bees fight for pollen?

[majornut]

Hey everyone,

 

A fellow friend believes that a reason wild bees are declining is because the 'farmed bees' are taking it all.  I think that it isn't true, but does anyone have any research/information supporting this? 

Thanks in advance,

Richard

[Kathyp]

define "wild bees".  honey bees are not native to our continent in the first place.  the bees that are living wild are escapees from those hives that were imported.  you could make the argument that the escapees descendants are taking from the managed hives. 

next, what is the evidence that there are fewer bees living in the wild?  it's often claimed, but i have yet to see the proof.

some people have a romantic attachment to all things not domesticated.  i'm not sure there is a logical justification for it.

[Finski]

Hey everyone,

 

a fellow friend believes that a reason wild bees are declining is because the 'farmed bees' are taking it all.  I think that it isn't true, but does anyone have any research/information supporting this? 

It just calculated that in Finland we have 150 natural bee species. - and the modern style is, they are vanishing! I read that North America has 350 bee species.

In Finland I read 40 ago a research than in south Finland where are much beekeeping, bumblebees are fewer than in other areas. Since then I have looked natural bees and they seems to be more in areas where is no honeybees. Most areas in our country is without honeybees.


But it is not so simple. 3 years ago in late summer almost all bumblebees vanished. Why, we do not know.
But last summer they were so abundant than I have never seen them so much. They were abundant allready when willow started to bloom.

It must be so that they have arrived via air flowings from Russian or from south however.
The number of wasps may vary too sharply.

[Kathyp]

same with bumblebees here.  in fact, i remember a post about it.  i went years and saw no bumble bees.  the last two years, they are everywhere.  i even get calls to remove them.  yellowjackets were terrible last year.  worst year i remember.  all that on my property, with my bees  :-)

[majornut]

So, do honeybees try to take all of the pollen from the flowers and try to starve out other honeybees?

[Kathyp]

that would imply some kind of reasoning ability.

it is certainly possible to keep to many bees for the area to support.

[sarafina]

that would imply some kind of reasoning ability.

it is certainly possible to keep to many bees for the area to support.

You wouldn't for very long, though  ;)

[D Coates]

So, do honeybees try to take all of the pollen from the flowers and try to starve out other honeybees?

Things naturally compete with other things.  Some things are better suited for certain pollens and nectars that other things. However, the more the desired resource is limited the higher the competiton.  However, there's no intention to starve other honeybees or solitary bees.  There is normally enough space and floral offerings that various bees compete on a very limited front.

[Kathyp]

You wouldn't for very long, though 

no.  i think that's where some natural selection would kick in  :-)

[luvin honey]

From what I've read and seen, native bees and honeybees are not necessarily pollinating the same plants. I planted loads of sunflowers for my honeybees, but the bumbles were the only ones on them and other little buggers.

BTW, I also noted a LOT of bumblebees this past summer!