I apologize that I'm asking this question in a random blog, but I was unsure where else to go. I live in Northern New Jersey and for the last week I have watched at least One Hundred Bumble Bees die in my driveway/backyard. They seem to be struggling to crawl for a while and eventually die. They're Everywhere! It has not been cold or any sudden weather changes, which is the only reason I could find this would happen at this time of year. Can anyone give me any further information as to what may be going on?? Thank You!!
Hi Melissa and others here: Many also mix bees with wasps!! I have had many think the poor bumble bee is an insect to get rid of without even knowing what it was! Unfortunately, that means they take the steps to spray without looking further. If you see any wonderful bees in your area, please tell them to SAVE them as we need them in our world to survive...:) Thanks for this site Laura! Loved the internal drawing of the bumblebee, as I was wondering what these insects look like on the internal side of things. Vicki Display artist for a Nature Centre in Canada.
Hi Melissa, In cases like these usually insecticide is to blame. You are seeng the bees dying as they are probably returning to a nest either in your property or nearby. Bumblebees can travel quite far to forage, so finding out just where the insicticide is coming from can be a problem. It could be one of your neighbours, it could be the local authority, or it could be a farmer. If you are lucky enough to find out who is spraying you can explain the situation to them. If they must use insecticide you could ask them to spray as late as they can, as this will avoid the time when most bumblebees and many other insects are foraging.
Hello Laura - no the most appropriate place for this post but just want to thank you for all the fantastic info you give on bumblebees. I am interested in what colours bees see, having recently read some research on this. Do you have any info?
Actually, there was a new paper just published on that very topic! They see very well! Supersonic in fact...here is the link on this topic..http://news.discovery.com/animals/bumblebee-color-vision.htm And here is the link on the colours they see... www.bumblebee.org/bodyEyehtm.htm So humans can see wavelengths from around 400 (blue) to as far as 800 (red) nanometres, whereas bumblebees can see from as low as 300 (ultra violet) but only up as far as 700 (orange) nanometres. The three basic colours seen by humans are red, green and blue, and by bumblebees they are green, blue and ultra violet. I am doing a set design on this topic right now so thought to share...hope Laura does not mind:)
I apologize that I'm asking this question in a random blog, but I was unsure where else to go. I live in Northern New Jersey and for the last week I have watched at least One Hundred Bumble Bees die in my driveway/backyard. They seem to be struggling to crawl for a while and eventually die. They're Everywhere! It has not been cold or any sudden weather changes, which is the only reason I could find this would happen at this time of year. Can anyone give me any further information as to what may be going on?? Thank You!!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa and others here: Many also mix bees with wasps!! I have had many think the poor bumble bee is an insect to get rid of without even knowing what it was! Unfortunately, that means they take the steps to spray without looking further. If you see any wonderful bees in your area, please tell them to SAVE them as we need them in our world to survive...:)
DeleteThanks for this site Laura! Loved the internal drawing of the bumblebee, as I was wondering what these insects look like on the internal side of things.
Vicki
Display artist for a Nature Centre in Canada.
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteIn cases like these usually insecticide is to blame. You are seeng the bees dying as they are probably returning to a nest either in your property or nearby. Bumblebees can travel quite far to forage, so finding out just where the insicticide is coming from can be a problem. It could be one of your neighbours, it could be the local authority, or it could be a farmer. If you are lucky enough to find out who is spraying you can explain the situation to them. If they must use insecticide you could ask them to spray as late as they can, as this will avoid the time when most bumblebees and many other insects are foraging.
Hello Laura - no the most appropriate place for this post but just want to thank you for all the fantastic info you give on bumblebees. I am interested in what colours bees see, having recently read some research on this. Do you have any info?
ReplyDeletefrom
Laura!
Actually, there was a new paper just published on that very topic! They see very well! Supersonic in fact...here is the link on this topic..http://news.discovery.com/animals/bumblebee-color-vision.htm
DeleteAnd here is the link on the colours they see...
www.bumblebee.org/bodyEyehtm.htm
So humans can see wavelengths from around 400 (blue) to as far as 800 (red) nanometres, whereas bumblebees can see from as low as 300 (ultra violet) but only up as far as 700 (orange) nanometres. The three basic colours seen by humans are red, green and blue, and by bumblebees they are green, blue and ultra violet.
I am doing a set design on this topic right now so thought to share...hope Laura does not mind:)
Cheers
vicki.