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I don't seem to have very many bees this year. I haven't used chemical pesticides (this year) and I'm wondering what would cause a decrease from last year. Another problem I have is the few bees I do have are more attracted to the hummingbird feeders than the flowers. Anyway to solve this without removing the feeders?
Are there honeybees at your feeders or wasps? I had wasp problems with mine so just double checking. Do you have plenty of "tried and true bee plants" for your area? You also mentioned chemical pesticides "this year" maybe any used last year had an effect on bee hives close to you, or possibly your neighbors are still using them. Of course there is also that whole "disappearing bee" thing going around.
Tommyr2006, I like your answer! :)
It could be a result of colony collapse disorder that has been prevalent for several years now. It is very serious and a threat to economies that depend on the honey bees for pollination. Here is a link to the Wikipedia article on it.
In terms of the hummingbird feeder, I mostly get unwanted wasps at my feeders and not the nicer honey and bumble bees.
So, if you are looking for fruits or want to save seeds you may want to help your plants by pollinating them by hand. Good luck and may your bees return soon. Mine were scarce for two years but have been back and healthy this year.
Z, good to hear that your bees came back. Did you change anything (add bee plants) or did they just come back on their own? Maybe some hives got wiped out & it took a bit for new bees to move back to the area. Anyway, it's hope for XMelissaX :)
No, I didn't do anything differently. And while the honey bees were away I did notice an unusually abundant bumble bee presence, so pollination was not a problem in my yard. There are lots of pollinators around but the honey bees are used commercially. Bee keepers put hives on trucks and rent them out to farmers that need the help. Grampapa wrote a good article on other pollinators this past week.
I only have one feeder in one flower bed, the rest are by the garage and the house. I do have a problem with the wasps at the feeders, but the honey bees are definitely attracted as well.
As far as pesticides, I have never sprayed my whole yard or anything. I put seven dust on squash and cucumbers last year and sprayed some around my house, but that was it. We have had a lot of rain this year and a problem with the mosquitoes. The city has been sending trucks around to spray for them. I hadn't thought about that when I made this post, the spray could have affected the bees.
