I have started gardening but have noticed at night on my galladrias (sp) that the bees are "sleeping" there at night. Even more strange, when it rains, they have been hanging on the underside of the flowers. I always thought bees go back to their hives...yet these don't seem to.
Wondering if I have odd bees or just really good flowers.
2007-08-13 14:35:52 · 6 answers · asked by Nick C 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
There are many types of bee. Those we usually know, are the ones from which we take the honey. But some kinds of bee don't live in communities, they are just as any other insect.
2007-08-13 14:41:15 · answer #1 · answered by Don't worry... be happy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bumblebees do live in hives but often spend the night out in flowers. Solitary bees, such as orchard or mason bees do not build hives, and frequently spend the night in flowers. A few bumblebees and mason bees spend the night in my dahlias every night all summer long. Many people confuse the bumblebee with the mason bee. Other insects and arachnids seek refuge in your flowers at night as well. Bees don't fly well with wet wings, so they get out of the rain by crawling under flowers and leaves. When the sun comes back out they will crawl to the top of the flower and buzz their wings dry, then go about there mission of foraging. Solitary bees, sometimes called non-social bees, live in holes in stumps, dead trees and the like. Some live in tunnels in the ground. They go home, for the most part, just for nest building and laying eggs. To encourage solitary bees you can build nest holes for them in wooden posts. Just drill a 5/16" dia. by 5" deep hole 1-3 ft above ground. It may take them a year or two to find it, but they will. Google "solitary bees" to learn more about nest building. These insect are very important , especially since a huge portion of the honey bee population has been wiped out.
2007-08-14 02:33:27 · answer #2 · answered by wry humor 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
your bees are normal..... I have a Rose of Sharon and when it's blooming, I find that bees sleep in the blooms, as they fold up at night or on cloudy or rainy days.... they find shelter and food right handy there!!.... and on some other flowers, their favorites for nectar, like salvia or hyssop, they'll hang on to a bloom all night and 'sleep it off', since they're pretty much drunk on the fermented nectar!!!.... we can 'pet' our big carpenter bees when they are 'stoned' on the nectar of the Russian sage and Giant Hyssop!!....
2007-08-14 08:43:37 · answer #3 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I haven't noticed that. But at least you are lucky enough to still have bees! I am kind of worried about some areas that are seeing less and less.
2007-08-14 00:55:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really I've never really paid attention... I'm allergic
2007-08-13 21:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by just me 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i have no idea, and i'm not going to pretend i do.... that sounds freakin weird
2007-08-13 21:42:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋