In NW indiana we had a long cold winter with record snowfalls and it looks like it had a major effect on our dwindling bee population. I spend a great deal of my time in my garden and have yet to see a single honey bee. A possible benefit though is the Japanese beetle population seems to also have been knocked down. Anyone else experiencing this?
No Bees
- Thread starter Ken Adams
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catjac1975
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I have had the opposite. Many swarming my melons. Bit a kid I had weeding several times. Many melons coming! We seem to have lots of bunnies and birds. Seems strange after a terrible winter.
baymule
Garden Master
Even here in southeast Texas, we had a cold winter.....OK you Naawthurners can start laughing now.
but we had snow twice and an ice storm, definitely NOT normal winter weather here. But the garden is alive with pollinators. Honey bees, bumble bees and a tiny iridescent green fly sized bee that loves the butterbeans. That same tiny bee also loved the dandelions.
but we had snow twice and an ice storm, definitely NOT normal winter weather here. But the garden is alive with pollinators. Honey bees, bumble bees and a tiny iridescent green fly sized bee that loves the butterbeans. That same tiny bee also loved the dandelions.
annageckos
Deeply Rooted
Same here, insanely cold winter and lots of snow and ice. But we have tons of bees of all kinds all over the flowers. I've even been stung four times this year, before that it's been years since my last sting.
so lucky
Garden Master
Ken, I have been worrying about the lack of honeybees around my property for a couple of years. We had a cold winter, but apparently it takes more than that, if the population of bees is healthy. Are there any aviaries near you? I have a friend who sells honey, and he is apparently not having any major issues. Although the price of honey has gone up a lot in the past 3 years....
Are you in the midst of a lot of farm crops?
I have considered getting a couple of hives going, but I don't want to invest all that money and brain power (learning the necessary stuff) if they are going to be poisoned by the neighbor's crops.
Some people say even the bedding plants we buy contribute to the demise of the honeybee, because they are treated with insecticides while growing in the greenhouse, that stay in the plant to wreak havoc months later. I don't know; just repeating what I read. (It's on the internet, so it's gotta be true, right?)
The good thing is that a lot of garden plants are self pollinators, so the scarcity of honeybees doesn't mean you won't have a crop.
Are you in the midst of a lot of farm crops?
I have considered getting a couple of hives going, but I don't want to invest all that money and brain power (learning the necessary stuff) if they are going to be poisoned by the neighbor's crops.
Some people say even the bedding plants we buy contribute to the demise of the honeybee, because they are treated with insecticides while growing in the greenhouse, that stay in the plant to wreak havoc months later. I don't know; just repeating what I read. (It's on the internet, so it's gotta be true, right?)
The good thing is that a lot of garden plants are self pollinators, so the scarcity of honeybees doesn't mean you won't have a crop.
Blue-Jay
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We had about the same winter here in Northern Illinois as you did in NW Indiana. Last year I could stand in my garden with a jar of soapy water and pick about a 100 Japanese beetles per hour. This year I might find 3 to 5 all day long and some days none. It's nice to garden without those pests.
As far as bees goes I don't recall seeing many honey bees this season however there seems to be no shortage of bumble bees. Bumble bees must be tough.
As far as bees goes I don't recall seeing many honey bees this season however there seems to be no shortage of bumble bees. Bumble bees must be tough.
so lucky
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@Bluejay77, one of the beans I got from you is the JBs' favorite food. I find them stacked 3 and 4 in a pile hidden amongst the leaves, having a party I guess.
PhilaGardener
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Chemical insecticides that are absorbed by plants (so-called systemic insecticides) can show up in pollen and nectar - try to avoid them (and let your suppliers know your preference!) They should drop in concentration as time passes and your plants grow, but can remain extremely toxic even at trace levels.
greengenes
Deeply Rooted
We had a mild winter, and we have no pollenators at all. I thought maybe our fire ant population was somehow affecting them.
We just set up a hive in my garden that I made just for them, Lots of flowers, And they are working hard.
I had to bring in bees because every year I make the garden bigger and get less produce.
We also had a light flower year. The usual wild flowers were barely noticable this year.
I wonder if light pollution has anything to do with it?
There are so many theories out there, and none seem to fit well.
If DDT did not wipe out hives fifty years ago, why would pesticides be doing it now?
I am not a big fan of pesticides, but something is different besides them. DDT was used like magic dust. We almost wiped out bald eagles, but we still had bees.
We just set up a hive in my garden that I made just for them, Lots of flowers, And they are working hard.
I had to bring in bees because every year I make the garden bigger and get less produce.
We also had a light flower year. The usual wild flowers were barely noticable this year.
I wonder if light pollution has anything to do with it?
There are so many theories out there, and none seem to fit well.
If DDT did not wipe out hives fifty years ago, why would pesticides be doing it now?
I am not a big fan of pesticides, but something is different besides them. DDT was used like magic dust. We almost wiped out bald eagles, but we still had bees.
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