[Pollinator] Fwd: FW: Bee observation

[Taylor Jr, Orley R]

Observation of honey bees at bird feeders in winter or early spring are not uncommon. I’ve had a number of calls along these lines. Bees seek out water, nectar (anything with a sugar in it if the concentration is sufficient), and pollen. When the latter is not available, bees will collect any carbon containing dust from coal dust to corn dust, to various flours sold in open markets. I’ve seen neo-tropical African bees (killer bees) collecting flour (farina) in open markets in Brazil and Mexico and parts in between.

It’s not uncommon for beekeepers to place sheltered trays in places accessible to bees that contain an enriched soy flour at times when pollen is scarce. In all these instances, the bees “pack” the flour on their hind legs to carry it back to the hive. The bees typically hover to pack the flour but they “dig” to cover the forked hairs on their bodies with “dust” before hovering.

The licking behavior described here suggests that the bees are after a sugary substrate and perhaps water but maybe the corn and seed dust as well.

This behavior typically stops when the first elms come into bloom.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kelly Rourke <kr at pollinator.org<mailto:kr at pollinator.org>>
Subject: [Pollinator] FW: Bee observation
Date: March 20, 2019 at 5:43:52 PM CDT
To: pollinator at coevolution.org<mailto:pollinator at coevolution.org>
Cc: Dee.Wilson at ul.com<mailto:Dee.Wilson at ul.com>

Fowarding for input
-Kelly

From: Wilson, Dee [mailto:Dee.Wilson at ul.com<mailto:Dee.Wilson at ul.com>]
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2019 2:06 PM
To: Kelly Rourke <kr at pollinator.org<mailto:kr at pollinator.org>>
Subject: Bee observation
Importance: High

Hello Kelly,

I have been noticing unusual (at least in my observations) behavior my local honey bees. I reside a little Northwest of Pittsburgh, PA (Beaver county).

I have lived at the same residence for 16 years and have always had bird feeder in front of the kitchen window. Over the years I have seen many years where we have unseasonably warm weather in Jan and Feb on and off intermixed with snow up until April. I have seen honey bees to be out and about during these weird warm days in the middle of “winter”.

This is the first year that I have seen Honey Bees actually at my bird feeder. We get typical rain and/or moisture that soaks the mixed bird feed (cracked corn, millet, sunflower seeds, other) that sits in the “tray” portion of the bird feeder located on both sides of the feeder and the seed that is spilled on the ground. The Honey bees are densely congregated (a mass of them tightly packed) on both sides of the bird feeder where they are digging and tunneling under the seed and enter into the feeder itself where they become trapped. I have seen them licking the soggy cracked corn in the feeder trays and licking the “bird seed water” that collects in the feeder trays. I also see, simultaneously 30-40 bees scrounging the ground where all the seed has spilled. I have observed these honey bees rolling the soggy cracked corn as they lick all sides of the corn and then off to the next piece on the ground. I originally watched this behavior in beginning Feb. when it was warm and intermittently ever since on the warmer days in between the cold/snow days. It started out with the soggy bird feed, concentrating on licking the cracked corn only to now they are licking the dry corn. I have seen them fervently lick all of the “dust” (when dry) or the moisture (when wet) from the cracked corn that coats the corn and accumulated in the feeder trays and inside the feeder itself (mind you, they are tunneling under 3-4 inched of bird seed when they get stuck in the feeder, where they get exhauster/overheated and die if I am not home to see and let them out (I work, as most of us do, and am not home to save them all the time).


When the honey bees are buzzing and covering the ground licking the corn, others are all over the feeder covering both sides completely covering the lower 6-8 inches of the feeder itself to where you cannot see the feeder past all the bees. I have never seen this behavior ever (and I have kept several hives myself spanning over several years in the past and I have seen hungry bees before).

The birds do not like the bees and sit in the bushes until they leave and are upset they cannot access the feeder or the seed on the ground. Most times, the birds have to settle in for a several hour wait. The birds just sit there and look dumbfounded. This occurs during the warmest hours of the day when the bees are active. The bees all leave when the sun begins to set. I have observed this behavior more that 15 separate occasions starting in beginning Feb. to just as recent as last week. I do not know where the honey bees hail from, if they are a feral hive that has swarmed/split from a bee enthusiast or if they reside in a backyard hive.  I live very rural, farms/orchards. It is not uncommon for someone to keep a hive or two. If I knew where they came from, if it was a cultivated hive, I would tell him to feed his bees. Honey bees face enough hardships/problems without having to contend with a neglectful owner/”hobbyist”.


Keep in mind, I am not worried over the birds…they will get over it.
I tried leaving out a tray of sugar water on the ground below the feeder to help them out, however, they are only interested in licking the corn, soggy or dry and have not bothered with my “offerings”.



Has anyone else observed this behavior?

I imagine it has much to do with no blooms available during the winter months and they are desperate for nutrition and water?????

Can you circulate for additional comments? Answers? Or as a case of record or warning (to not neglect one’s bees)?



Thank you.

Dee Wilson





From: Pollinator <pollinator-bounces+dwilson=chemadvisor.com at lists.sonic.net<mailto:pollinator-bounces+dwilson=chemadvisor.com at lists.sonic.net>> On Behalf Of Kelly Rourke
Sent: Monday, February 4, 2019 2:02 PM
To: pollinator at coevolution.org<mailto:pollinator at coevolution.org>
Subject: [Pollinator] FW: announcement for listserv...

Abstract submission open for the 4th International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy!

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