Gardeners Told to Give Exhausted Bees an Energy Drink

In an effort to help Britain's declining bee population, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is urging gardeners to leave out a homemade energy drink for tired bees. The RSPB says that a mix of two tablespoons of sugar with a tablespoon of water makes a perfect bee-boosting drink. Val Osborne, head of wildlife inquiries at the RSPB, said, "Many people keep seeing bees on the ground and assume they are dead, but chances are they are having a rest. Much like us, a sugary drink could boost their energy levels and a simple sugar and water combination will be a welcome treat."

Comments

Those aren't honey bees, they're yellow jackets

[swb]

Yellow jackets are protein eaters (other bugs, roadkill). They don't make honey. In the late summer / early fall they lose their normal food sources and they start going after carbohydrates -- sugary soda and pretty much anything on the picnic table.

They're also super aggressive at that time of year and can sting repeatedly. Which is why I hang a yellow jacket trap to kill as many as possible. 10 in the last day!

Colony Collapse Disorder

[BigHungryJoe]

Is Britain having the same problem the US is with CCD?

  I talked to a guy that sells honey at the local farmer's market, and this past year was the first time in 15 years that he actually had to purchase more bees because he'd lost over 90% of his hives to CCD.

Anyhow, the symptoms described in the article sort of sounded like CCD, although I've never seen it, just had it described to me.

 

Re:Colony Collapse Disorder

[mc1138]

They are, while not quite as conclusive, there has been a decline in populations, and resources are being applied to monitor the situation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_collapse_disorder#UK_Bee_database

Re:Colony Collapse Disorder

[Jane Q. Public]

A cure for "Colony Collapse Disorder" has recently been announced. It turns out (after an exhaustive study, in more ways that one), that there were a combination of microorganisms causing the problem. And it takes a mix of antibiotics to cure it, but it does work. The recovery has been pretty dramatic.

Disinfect your feeding containers

[Guppy]

Just like with Hummingbird feeders, if you do this I recommend dis-infecting your container periodically by boiling (or use disposable containers).

Otherwise, you eventually have microbial contamination problems which could be dangerous to the bees you're trying to help. Growth of yeasts, bacteria, and other organisms should not be assumed to be necessarily visible to the naked eye, either.

Re:Look, I know a dead bee when I see one

[xaxa]

No, it's Eric the Half-a-Bee.

Even better idea

[geekoid]

you actually learn what the hell you are talking about.

A) If we stopped using pesticide, 1/3 of the human population will die from starvation.

B) 'Pesticides' are not bad. They are a good thing when properly used. Most, if not all, modern pesticides have a very short half life

C) At this pojnt it looks like its two things causing this, a parasite, and a fungus. Not all the data is in, but it is strong

D) There are no issues with genetically created crops. That is panic based on ignorance and an ideology.

E) AS I mentioned befroe, it is really starting to lok like a double whamy of a parasite and a fungus. Something Humans can help cure.

Re:Even better idea

[mdalal97]

D) Actually, there are, but it has less to do with eating it and more to do w/ the terms of use imposed by companies like Monsanto/ADM. Primary, you can't use any of the seed from your own field to plant in the following year. You always have to buy the seeds again. Then say you are a farmer who has a field next to another farmer who uses genetically modified crops that, somehow, cross pollinate with your crops. If Monsanto tests your crops and finds their genetic markers, you are screwed. I won't even go into the problems with our monoculture of food production.