Coffee grounds?

[badgerbeekernube66]

Hey guys and gals, I observed the bees going crazy over dry coffee grounds in our compost today, and didn't know why they would be interested. Has anyone else seen this behavior before?

[apisbees]

They will also go after sawdust in the spring of the year they are looking for protein (pollen) to feed to brood, and will bring all types of things back to the hive.

[LazyBkpr]

Yep. This time of year they get into the bird feeder, the grain barrels for the critters etc..  When I see that I usually get the pollen sub out for them.

[badgerbeekernube66]

Ok, I did a little poking around and found an article on www.inhabitant.com about how scientists proved that some flowering plants have evolved to produce caffeine laden nectac to attract pollinators.
Check it out, it's an interesting article and fairly short read.

[Chip Euliss]

Ok, I did a little poking around and found an article on www.inhabitant.com about how scientists proved that some flowering plants have evolved to produce caffeine laden nectac to attract pollinators.
Check it out, it's an interesting article and fairly short read.

That's true and I suspect there are more "treats" that flowers have evolved to keep their pollinators on the job.  A bit off topic, but interesting and never published, was a study that my old major professor (he's 88 now) told me about when he was a PhD student at the University of Minnesota.  Alfalfa smacks bees in the face and they tend to work it after the clover bloom is over and there's less nectar available.  The student put out wet stations for the bees to drink and he gave them beer--the control group got plain old water.  Seems the bees that consumed the beer had no problem foraging on alfalfa, whether clover was available or nor while the control group avoided alfalfa when clover was abundant.  Seems a bee with a buzz doesn't mind a slap in the face!  Cool study but one that never made press, as you might imagine!

[neillsayers]

 :laugh:Love it! Buzzed bees!