This Spring and Summer I didn't see any honeybees, not even when the clover was in bloom. Last year I saw two and they were on my driveway and dying. I live in a very rural area in the hills of Tennessee. We've had a few nights cold enough to produce hard-frost, definitely not weather for little bees! There is nothing blooming here this time of year! Saturday I noticed a few bees near our patio table. Why were they here and what were they finding to eat? I don't know anything about bee behavior,but their being here didn't seem normal.
I placed some raw honey on a plate and set it out for them. Within half an hour there was a swarm!!! I poured more honey!!
When I was a youngster I was stung a number of times when playing barefoot outside and accidentally stepping on them.
I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to sit at the table,put my hand in the midst of them and not one sting! Why didn't they sting? I like to think they knew I wouldn't harm them,so they had no reason to harm me. Maybe they don't sting year-round. Maybe they aren't the stinging type.
I'd really be interested in knowing. I hope I'm not causing them any harm by feeding them. As the sun goes down they disappear. Where do they go? I hope they will be alright. My family thinks I'm crazy for sticking my hand in a pile of busy honeybees,but I find it to be a marvelous experience!
Hi Sootsy
Perhaps the reason you didn't see honey bees in the spring was just because there weren't any colonies nearby, or perhaps they were working other nectar sources.
The European honeybees which we have in the United States do sting, they don't necessarily sting unless they are provoked.
They don't need to find nectar and pollen all the year, they store their own food for the lean times, honey. Actually they are the only insect which has the resources to survive the winter without hibernating to conserve energy. They actually use the energy they get from the honey to generate heat to keep the hive warm inside.
Subscribe To This Site
