The Bee Guy Profile picture
May 27, 2023 11 tweets 9 min read Read on X
Okay folks as we seem to be heading in to some warm dry weather we need to talk about #bees and #water.

Please #retweet this to provide bees a helping hand. Thanks

BEES NEED WATER!

Given that they can collect water, their nectar based diet and their ability to generate…
1/11
…large amounts of water metabolically during flight #bumblebees are less prone to dehydration/desiccation than most terrestrial insects.

However they still need safe access to water.

Research suggests that #bees locate sources of #water by smell rather than sight.
2/11
#water is a source of essential #nutrients for #bees and this explains their preference for ‘dirty’ water sources containing organic matter, algae etc.

Indeed #honeybees have the ability to and will change their preferred source of #water to an alternative in order to…
3/11
…compensate for nutrient deficiencies in their diet at various times of the year.

#honeybees prefer sodium-rich water for most of the year but in autumn as pollen supplies lessen they prefer water which contains magnesium, calcium & potassium - micronutrients found in…
4/11
…pollen!

#bees also source water on plants. Plants expel excess water and/or nutrients through small openings on leaves and stems through a process known as guttation.

So where do you come in I hear you ask?

Well during warm weather especially it is vital to ensure that
5/11
…you provide #water for the #wildlife and bees in your garden/yard.
It is important though that this water is supplied in a manner that is safe for #bees.

#bees can’t lift off when they land in water and their wings get wet.

They need to be able to climb onto something…
6/11
…with a gradual slope. They need to be able to access the water you supply in a safe manner.
So please ensure that water left out is in a shallow container and has pebbles/small stones or similar in it to allow safe access & an exit if the bee happens to land in the water.
7/11
Please also ensure to keep the water topped up daily and don’t be afraid if the water is ‘nature’ dirty.
Also please be vigilant about other water sources in your patch which may be dangerous for #bees.
Buckets of water, watering cans and paddling pools/swimming pools are…
8/11
…places where #bees get in to trouble and die. So empty or cover these wherever possible and check periodically for ‘floating bees’.

If you do see a floating bee don’t immediately presume she is dead! Fish her out as soon as possible and get her to a flower. It is…
9/11
…amazing how often a seemingly ‘lost’ bee will quickly recover when given the chance to dry out and access to nectar or a 50/50 white sugar and water mix.

To recap: the wildlife in your garden needs water too. Especially during the summer.
If you are hot & thirsty chances
10/11
…are the #bees are too. So as you reach for some liquid refreshment remember to top up our #wild friends too.
And be considerate and vigilant around the sources of #water you provide and keep in your garden/yard.
Please pass this on.
Thank you.
Retweet for the bees!
🙏🏼🐝
11/11

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More from @the_beeguy

Nov 10
It’s winter. The buzzing has stopped - mostly.
So what’s happened to all the #bees?
You’ve been asking…so a quick thread to broadly account for our little #friends at this time of year.
Please #retweet and #share.
You know the drill.
The more informed the better for bees. 1/13
And they do need better from us!

Spoiler alert!
Bumbles - new queens in hibernation.
Solitaries - kids in cocoons.
Honeys - small ball of hot hive-bound bees.

So let’s start with honey #bees and get them out of the way as you know they’re not really our thing here.
2/13
#Honeybees don’t hibernate. They reduce the colony numbers but stay active within the hive.
As temperatures drop (below 50ºF) they form a cluster (ball of #bees) in the hive in order to use body heat primarily to keep the queen alive. This cluster will have a densely…
3/13
Read 13 tweets
Aug 10
It’s that time of year again.
What time you ask?
#Bumblebees sleeping on/in #flowers time of year we reply.
Lots of people asking us why?
Here’s a quick (long)🙄 thread explaining what’s going on.

Please #retweet/#share so more are more informed.
Thanks good people.
#bees
1/16
Spoiler alert:
To sleep on a flower may appear romantic and #magical but the reality can seem more tragic than magic for the bumblebees involved.

Flower sleeping #bumblebees are primarily males.
They don’t have a father.
Once mature, males leave the nest and never return.
2/16
They spend their short lives seeking sugar and a mate.
Most don’t get to mate.
Those that do never meet their offspring.
No male has a son.
Oh and they can’t sting!

#Bumblebees sometimes sleep/overnight on flowers. And for a number of reasons including getting caught out…
3/16
Read 13 tweets
Jul 13
Forget the elephant in the room. Let’s talk about the #bumblebees in the box.
A thread on the commodification of bumblebees to produce your #food.
The numbers.
Why it’s bad for wild #bees
How they kill them when they’re no longer of use.
Please #share
#Retweet
#ForBees
1/14
Spoiler alert:
#Bumblebees artificially produced to pollinate food crops.
Industry worth 100’s of millions of euros.
Poorly regulated.
Traded across continents.
Bees escape into the wild.
Spread #disease.
Breed with native #bees.
Suffocated when no longer of use.
2/14
The ‘mass production’ of bumblebee colonies for pollination services began in the 80’s.
By 2004 over 1 million commercially produced #bumblebee colonies were being produced annually. Latest figures put this at 2 million colonies being produced and traded across continents…
3/14
Read 14 tweets
Jun 2
‘Are these very small #bumblebees we’re seeing out foraging of late (May/early June) a specific species?’

A good question.
Thanks for asking us.

Here’s a brief thread to explain these diminutive beauties.

Please #retweet/#share with your crew.

For the small bumblers.
🙏🏼🐝
1/9
Spoiler Alert: They’re the first brood of worker #bumblebees and they’re all female!

These small bumblebees that you may have seen fitting snuggly into a buttercup as they forage over the past while, very often - depending on species - are in appearance mini versions…
2/9
…of the larger queens that you may have seen out foraging and house hunting in early spring.
Shortly after establishing their nest these queens will have laid their first batch of eggs which they then sit on to incubate & when hatched provide food for. Depending on species..
3/9
Read 9 tweets
May 26
We’ve had a number of enquiries lately from people worried about having a bumblebee ‘hive’ in their garden.
‘Are they dangerous?’
‘Should I have them removed?’
‘Will they be there forever?’
Here’s a quick bumblebee lifecycle thread to explain.
Please #retweet for the #bees.
1/14
Spoiler alert:
Bumblebee nests generally exist for a matter of months.
Maximum number of #bees run to hundreds not thousands.
They don’t swarm.
They are not aggressive.
They don’t need to be - and shouldn’t be - moved.
You’re lucky to have them - enjoy and celebrate them!
2/14
The Bumblebee Lifecyle.
This is the quick version and a generalisation - obviously there may be variance depending on species and geographic location.

#Bumblebee queens emerge from hibernation in early spring - how they got there we’ll get to later just go with it for now!
3/14
Read 14 tweets
May 18
Please #retweet/#share for the #bees.🙏🏼🐝

Again let’s talk about #honeybees in the context of ‘Saving the Bees’.
Let’s cut the bull and cut to the chase as there’s way too much confusion/misinformation out there which is a hinderance to & detrimental to genuine bee saving.
1/18
May 20th has been designated World Bee Day by the UN. This date is the birthday of the pioneer of modern beekeeping – Anton Janša.
But maybe in reality it should be World Honey Bee Day & #bumblebees/#solitarybees should get their own day.
‘ENDANGERED BEE DAY’
Why?
Read on.
2/18
Context:
There are 3 basic types of bee on the planet.
#Solitarybees.
#Bumblebees.
#Honeybees.
Of the 20,000+ species of bee only 8 are honey #bees.
Around 40% of bee species are under pressure worldwide.
Honey bees are not in trouble.
Repeat.
Honey bees are not in trouble.
3/18
Read 18 tweets

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