Did you know that the bumblebee queen overwinters underground, often in an
\nabandoned mouse hole? She has been busy preparing for the winter and has built up
\nher fat reserves feeding on plenty of sweet nectar. During the winter, if her body
\ntemperature dips too low she can produce her own antifreeze, preventing her body
\nfrom freezing. After hibernation she emerges in the spring and finds a suitable nest –
\nusually beneath a hedgerow. Read more of this story on the website of \u201cDragonfli\u201d
\nwhose owner, Julian Ives came to talk to us at our last meeting.<\/p>\n
It is vital to look after our bees – not just honey bees but also bumblebees, solitary
\nbees, leaf cutter bees, red mason bees \u2026\u2026\u2026 . You may already have leaf cutter
\nbees if you find leaves with symmetrical cuts all around the edges – they particularly
\nlike rose leaves. There are several hundred species of solitary bees and you can
\nencourage them by erecting a bee hotel on your garden wall or fence – look in the
\ngarden centre now as from April onwards through to July the females will be looking
\nfor a nest.<\/p>\n
You will have all seen the bee hotels which are bundles of tubes of different sizes –
\nthese can easily be made at home. Different sizes attract different species. The queen
\nlays female eggs at the back and male ones at the front so that an inquisitive
\nwoodpecker only eats the less important gender! Pollen\/nectar is put next to each egg
\nfor the emerging baby bee to eat and once the tube is full the entrance is blocked up
\nwith whatever suitable material is around. Observant gardeners may be lucky enough
\nto see the emerging baby bees flying away from their hotel. <\/p>\n
Of course you need to grow the right plants to attract the bees – check the labels before
\npurchase as plant growers are realising that gardeners are getting more
\nknowledgeable and discerning.<\/p>\n
There are twenty four species of bumblebees in the UK, they visit more flowers than
\nthe honey bee and can carry heavier loads of pollen allowing longer periods for
\nforaging. Tree bumblebees are becoming more widespread – you may find them in
\ntrees, old nest boxes and roof spaces.<\/p>\n
A fascinating talk – three cheers for the bees!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Did you know that the bumblebee queen overwinters underground, often in an abandoned mouse hole? She has been busy preparing for the winter and has built up her fat reserves feeding on plenty of sweet nectar. During the winter, if … Continue reading