Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Bee News => Topic started by: Newbee on July 10, 2015, 01:36:47 pm
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http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2015/07/bumblebees-being-crushed-climate-change (http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2015/07/bumblebees-being-crushed-climate-change)
Interesting read about a new study on an old topic. The data covers multiple species and goes back to 1901. In-short, the bee's aren't migrating/adapting to climate change as well as some other species on this planet. Author's are noticing shifts in altitude, but not latitude.
- K
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Thank you for the article.....another "canary in the coal mine", I fear.
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I think I have more bumble bees this year compared to last year. They survived the past winter.
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I still see some of the bigger bubble bees around, but haven't seen any of the smaller ones that nest in the ground for a couple of years now? You know the ones you run over in the hay field or you run a brush cutter over the top of them and are waiting for you to come back around. :o Jack
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We have sandy soil around De Leon, and there are plenty of the small ground dwelling bumble bees. I have a large nest of them under some sheet metal siding near a pump house. My plan it to leave them alone, as I don't need anything from them. I stepped on one of the edges of the sheet metal pile and about 10 of them came out to do a "look-see." I didn't get stung and that is my continuing plan.
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They seem to be doing okay here. Our anise hyssop is in full bloom and they are all over it. Haven't seen any carpenter bees yet. Some mason bees.
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We have more bumbles in my area than I ever remember seeing.
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Bumble bee colony numbers are effected by winter survival and the success of the queen finding a suitable nesting site. The queens choice of a winter hibernation spot that protect them from freezing. In the spring if the queen does emerge from hibernation she then needs to survive on her own, finding and starting a nest, feeding and incubating the nest, exposing herself to the elements and predators until the new emerged bees can help her in growing and developing the nest.
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I have seen ten times the number of bumbles I ever remember seeing.. perhaps it is the acres i planted in clovers, borage, buckwheat etc?
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The climate has always changed. Some species are not able to change with the climate and other environmental issues. Those species become extinct. This has been happening for countless millions of years, and it will continue. I think the bumble bee is in good shape at this time. I sure see a lot of them.
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Wasp, and yellow jackets are the only stinging bug i declare war on, and to tell the truth i don't miss those small ground nesting bumbles. I don't have a tractor with a cab on it and those little devils can put the hurt on you. My uncle was hooking up his brush cutter and a nest was under it, his daughters counted 235 stings on him, he said he would run aways and lay down and role, get run and role again, said it took 4 roles and a six pack to settle him down, he probably been through a six pack or two before he got into them. :laugh:Jack