Help save the Honey bees

[belfast]

Bee Friendly Gardening
Bubble bees and honey bees need our help
"Garden to Help Beneficial Honey Bees
Bee on Blossoms, American Beekeeping Federation
As the honey bee population declines, there are simple steps you can take to help the bees, including buying local honey, growing flowers and more.

Recent news reports have said that more than 25% of the U.S. honey bee population has disappeared over the last few winters. The effects of this can be felt in many areas, including the growth of many nut, fruits and berry crops – important produce for farmers and food manufacturers alike.
Why Are Honey Bees Important?

Many U.S. crops depend on honey bees for pollination. As the honey bees gather pollen and nectar for their own survival, they pollinate crops such as apples, cranberries, melons and broccoli. Some crops, including blueberries and cherries, are 90 percent dependent on honey bee pollination and one crop in particular – almonds -- depends entirely on the honey bee for pollination at bloom time.
What’s Causing the Decline in Population?

Researchers say that the decline in the bee population can be traced back to the following.

* Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). More than 35 states across the continental United States and in two provinces in Canada, Belgium, and Spain have reported this condition. CCD is thought to have claimed the lives of billions of honeybees around the world.
* Varroa Mitesh. Accidentally introduced into the United States in 1987, these tiny brown parasites feed exclusively on honey bees.
* Viruses. Israeli AcuParalysis Virus (IAPV) has been linked with CCD.

* Chemical Exposure. Tests on pollen in CCD-affected hives show levels of 45 different types of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.
* Lack of Nutrition. A limited supply of good pollen and nectar (due to drought) has had an effect on the decline of the honey bee population.

What Can I Do?

There are several things that home gardeners and concerned citizens can do to help the honey bee population. First, create a bee-friendly garden with plants that are attractive to honey bees. These include lavender, jasmine, rosemary, violets, thyme, blue bells, wisteria, cone flowers and sunflowers – common (and in some cases, local and native) perennials and herbs that can be grown easily and with little maintenance. The plants will also add beauty and diversity to your garden."
the rest of the article is in the link below
http://insectsspiders.suite101.com/article.cfm/bee_friendly_gardening



http://insectsspiders.suite101.com/article.cfm/bee_friendly_gardening

Buzzworthy Plants That Attract Bees
"Buzz up!

It isn't difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beneficial bees. You'll be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your backdoor.

The greater the plant diversity, the more bees you will attract and support. Always try to choose as many native plants as possible, and consult with nursery staff or other experts to find vegetation that will thrive in your specific conditions.

Here is a partial list of tried-and-true bee attractors:

Annuals

Asters
Calliopsis
Clover
Marigolds
Poppies
Sunflowers
Zinnias

Perennials

Buttercups
Clematis
Cosmos
Crocuses
Dahlias
Echinacea
English Ivy
Foxglove
Geraniums
Germander
Globe Thistle
Hollyhocks
Hyacinth
Rock Cress
Roses
Sedum
Snowdrops
Squills
Tansy
Yellow Hyssop

Garden Plants

Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Cucumbers
Gourds
Peppers
Pumpkins
Raspberries
Squash
Strawberries
Watermelons
Wild Garlic

Herbs

Bee Balm
Borage
Catnip
Coriander/Cilantro
Fennel
Lavender
Mints
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme

Shrubs

Blueberry
Butterfly Bush
Button Bush
Honeysuckle
Indigo
Privet

Trees

Alder
American Holly
Basswood
Black Gum
Black Locust
Buckeyes
Catalpa
Eastern Redbud
Fruit Trees (especially Crabapples)
Golden Rain Tree
Hawthorns
Hazels
Linden
Magnolia
Maples
Mountain Ash
Sycamore
Tulip
Poplar
Willows"
rest of the article in the link below

http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/tips/2790

Making a Wildlife Garden
http://www.enfo.ie/Making A Wildlife Garden pdf.pdf

 

[Miss Blunted]

I planted cone flower, hollyhock and strawberries this year....and bought a lot of benadryl, haha....my boyfriend's allergic. Planting anything is a give back...good thread.

 

[belfast]

more tips for people in the British Isles
"Great flowers start with pollination, and for that you need bees.
Plants for bees
Make a bee-line

Great flowers start with pollination, and for that you need bees. Find out how to get the busiest garden insects to work for you.
Gardens are extremely important for bumblebees, and vice versa. Bees need flowers for sustenance, and flowers need bees for pollination. But it's important the flowers you grow provide the food bees need.
Preferred flowers

Most double flowers are of little use, because they're too elaborate. Some are bred without male and female parts, while others have so many petals bees can't get to the nectar and pollen to collect it. This is the main reason why single dahlias are popular with many bees, while doubles are usually ignored.

The single-flowered rose family, which includes crab apple, hawthorn and potentilla, seem to be irresistible to our buzzing friends, as are the flowers of fennel, angelica and cow parsley, and sedums.

Tubular-shaped flowers, such as foxgloves, snapdragons, penstemons and heathers, are also all-favourite feeding places for bees.

Plants for life

It's vital you provide flowers throughout the bumblebee's life-cycle, from March to September. It's also a good idea to have at least two nectar- or pollen-rich plants in flower at any one time during this period. The nectar feeds the adult bee, while the pollen is collected to feed the young. Of course, the more flowers you have, the more attractive your garden is to bees, so you can never have too many!

Try the following to attract more bumblebees into your garden:


Spring flowers
Bluebell, bugle, crab apple, daffodil, flowering cherry and currant, forget-me-not (Myosotis), hawthorn, hellebore (Helleborus corsicus,
H. foetidus), pulmonaria, pussy willow, rhododendron, rosemary, viburnum, thrift (Armeria maritima).

Geranium flower
Early-summer flowers

Aquilegia, astilbe, campanula, comfrey, everlasting sweet pea (Lathyrus latifolius), fennel, foxglove, geranium, potentilla, snapdragon, stachys, teasel, thyme, verbascum.

Bee on dahlia flower
Late-summer flowers

Angelica, aster, buddleia, cardoon, cornflower (Centaurea), dahlia (single-flowered), delphinium, eryngium, fuchsia, globe thistle (Echinops), heather, ivy, lavender, penstemon, scabious, sedum, Verbena bonariensis."
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/plants-for-bees/

 

[maryjohn]

honeybees don't belong on this (north america) continent and they only take resources from our native pollinators.

I say let 'em croak and just focus on saving them in Europe. I really appreciate all the extra bumblebees (even better pollinator than honeybees) and little cute native bees I've been seeing.

 

[magiccannabus]

You'll have to check this shit out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m5vt07W2n4

 

[NOYB]

CCD is partly myth. I talked to a smaller bee keeper in the Sacramento, CA area and he said it's mainly due to poor hive maintenance and moving the bees around too much. He said you get something called 'frame slap' when the hives travel. In general travel is stressful to the hive. There are a few large companies that basically just pimp their bees out with little regard to care and lots die off. He, and other bee keepers he was associated with, also did not have issues with mites because they followed a simple maintenance program.

 

[belfast]

I hope the plants will help native pollinators.

Introduction - Why Make Yours A Bee Garden?
http://nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/index.html

I live in Europe and we have lots of bubble bees too and other pollinators.

I am growing some stinging nettles for the butterflies at the moment.

I think it was Éamon de Buitléar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Éamon_de_Buitléar that said the farming areas in Ireland and else where are becoming a green desert with nothing, but mono crop useless to insects.

I remember in Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s at petrol stations they would wipe the insect from you wind shield they were some many.

I see very few these days.

 

[belfast]

CCD is partly myth. I talked to a smaller bee keeper in the Sacramento, CA area and he said it's mainly due to poor hive maintenance and moving the bees around too much. He said you get something called 'frame slap' when the hives travel. In general travel is stressful to the hive. There are a few large companies that basically just pimp their bees out with little regard to care and lots die off. He, and other bee keepers he was associated with, also did not have issues with mites because they followed a simple maintenance program.

I friend of mine for Mauritius in the indian ocean told me they have the problem there too.

Also a friend of mine with an organic farm in Ireland who does not move his bees had the problem.

 

[barnyard]

"Yo, where's my bees at?"...

"Yo, where's my bees at?"...

that's a sweet video magicannabus, outstanding choreography.

Excellent post belfast, thanks for sharing.

Buckwheat is another great bee attractor.

I'm also about to drop an "elbow" of Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover around the grape vines in my backyard. Bees love all types of clover.

Both Buckwheat and Yellow Blossom Sweet clover make excellent cover crops and improve soil texture and fertility. Plus both grow so fast that they will outgrow, and thus suppress, weeds.

IMO, there's simply no argument against improving wildlife habitat.

 

[belfast]

encourage insects into your garden.
http://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk/garden.php

Insectary plants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insectary_plants

U.S. Growers Foster Wild Bees and Bee-Friendly Gardens
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2009/2009-03-24-093.asp

 

[buddah]

in germany we had a honey bees dieing period last year in some areas.....in the end it came out the a France Gen Corn was the reason...the corn was spraied with a fungizid and that killed the bees.......
don't trust chemicals.,...

 

[belfast]

honeybees don't belong on this (north america) continent and they only take resources from our native pollinators.

I say let 'em croak and just focus on saving them in Europe. I really appreciate all the extra bumblebees (even better pollinator than honeybees) and little cute native bees I've been seeing.

also let help the North America continent and the native pollinators there.


Help native bees help your garden
http://oneblockdiet.sunset.com/2009/05/help-native-bees-help-your-garden.html

 

[Kooza]

The funny thing is even though honey bee's are dieing off here in the states when it comes right down to it bee keepers don't want them.....I know of 2 seperate hives in the last 2 yrs that moved into the siding of houses and when local bee keepers were called they either wanted nothing to do with getting them or wanted a $200 removal fee..The siding on both houses was going to be replaced and the keepers were told you can do whatever you need to get the bees.

 

[RESINvention]

Great post topic, this is extremely important and needs more attention for sure. I'm totally down for supporting this.

 

[beek]

honeybees don't belong on this (north america) continent and they only take resources from our native pollinators.

I say let 'em croak and just focus on saving them in Europe. I really appreciate all the extra bumblebees (even better pollinator than honeybees) and little cute native bees I've been seeing.

Sure let bumble bees pollinate all those crops in California ? Bumble bees are maybe better pollinators 1 on 1 but sheer volume of one colony of bees with 50 000 bees against small colony o bumblee bees of 300 bumble bees will tell you who wins the day. All those wild bees cannot provide pollination for amount of crops being grown at the end of the day.

CCD is partly myth. I talked to a smaller bee keeper in the Sacramento, CA area and he said it's mainly due to poor hive maintenance and moving the bees around too much. He said you get something called 'frame slap' when the hives travel. In general travel is stressful to the hive. There are a few large companies that basically just pimp their bees out with little regard to care and lots die off. He, and other bee keepers he was associated with, also did not have issues with mites because they followed a simple maintenance program.

It is not a myth and it is probably combination of beekeepers malpractice and outside environment...mono farming, pollution, pesticides. The real cause is not known yet or they don't want to disclose it for whatever reason.

in germany we had a honey bees dieing period last year in some areas.....in the end it came out the a France Gen Corn was the reason...the corn was spraied with a fungizid and that killed the bees.......
don't trust chemicals.,...

Actually it was not France Gen Corn but Bayer pesticides ( neonicotinoids ) that were not properly coated over seeds. It was more a mechanical, planting error but I do agree to not trust chemicals.
What you wrote is pure example of propaganda. Blame it on France while german company and german farmers are to blame. I guess they are pissed since France banned some chemicals produced by Bayer Oh well...

The funny thing is even though honey bee's are dieing off here in the states when it comes right down to it bee keepers don't want them.....I know of 2 seperate hives in the last 2 yrs that moved into the siding of houses and when local bee keepers were called they either wanted nothing to do with getting them or wanted a $200 removal fee..The siding on both houses was going to be replaced and the keepers were told you can do whatever you need to get the bees.

Cut out is risky doing. Cutting out the whole established colony is kind of dangerous thing and the price is there. You can be killed for gods sake.
You expect them to do it for free ? Traveling to a house on their own expense and cutting walls down ? It is not that they don't care but it is a lot of work and very hard work which comes at a price. If you think of it...it is a pack of seeds worth

 

[Kooza]

Cut out is risky doing. Cutting out the whole established colony is kind of dangerous thing and the price is there. You can be killed for gods sake.
You expect them to do it for free ? Traveling to a house on their own expense and cutting walls down ? It is not that they don't care but it is a lot of work and very hard work which comes at a price. If you think of it...it is a pack of seeds worth

Both colonies were removed by my brother and I by simply pulling the old siding and leaving them alone for a few days....They didn't kill us and it took about 15 minutes to expose them....If I had any interest in boxing them and keeping bee's it could have been done...Sure we got stung a bit but not to the point of death.

 

[beek]

Of cource and bees left their nest or what ? When you want to box them you have to cut everything. I didn't say you get killed but you as well can be. Cutting that comb and attaching it to frames takes a little more time than 15 minutes.....Just removing the siding and making them go away is completely different that Cut-Out.

You have to understand that some beekeepers don't want extra hives. It is a place issue maybe and cut out is the hardest way to get the bees....

 

[belfast]

Bee Houses

Bee Houses

"How to Build a Bee House

"Bee Houses" provide cover and places to raise young for bees. They're easy and fun to make, or can be purchased commercially from several vendors.
The Orchard Mason Bee is a wonderful little creature. It does not live in a nest like other bees; it lives in wooden blocks, but does not drill holes and destroy wooden items like other bees. It uses holes that are already available. The male Orchard Mason Bee can not sting and the female rarely stings.

How to build a bee house:
* With drill bits of various sizes (5/16th of an inch works best for Mason bees) simply take some scrap lumber and drill holes 3 to 5 inches deep but not all the way through the wood block. For example, get a 4 inch by 4 inch piece of wood and drill holes that are 3 and 1/2 inches deep.
* You can cover the holes with chicken wire to help keep birds away from the bee house.
* Securely place the bee house on the South side of buildings, fence posts, or trees.
* Scatter some of the houses throughout your community. You may find an excellent location to trap some bees and then move them to your location.
* DO NOT move bee houses after they are in place until at least November.
* DO NOT spray insecticides on or around bee houses.
* If you choose to build your own bee houses, DO NOT use treated wood."

rest of detail in link below

http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlif...9204843cb-D0B39A45-5056-A84B-C35DC41DC297D394

Make a bee hotel
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/insects-bee-hotel/

YES Mag Project Crew - Build Your Own Mason Bee House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGDO7lfG7sk

 

[belfast]

"Make a House for Solitary Bees
As well as bumble bees and honeybees (that live collectively) there are some 200 species of wild bees in the UK that are called 'solitary bees' because they make individual nest cells for their larvae. Some species nest in small tunnels or holes in the ground or in sandy banks, piles of sand, or crumbling mortar. Others use the hollow stems of dead plants such as brambles, or tunnels previously bored into dead wood by beetles.

Leafcutter Bee Visits Knapweed Solitary bees are harmless and do not sting, they do not live in hives or build combs, and they do not swarm."

rest of details on the link below
http://www.foxleas.com/bee_house.htm

 

[belfast]

Bumblebee Nest Box
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page38.html

BUG OF THE MONTH SUPPLEMENT
Coffee Can Cottages
for Bumble Bees
(and other critters)
Order Hymenoptera, Family Apidae
http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth36.html

Bumblebee pages
http://www.bumblebee.org/

Bumblebee numbers have declined in recent years, due to changes in agriculture, which have led to fewer nesting opportunities and flowers for them to feed from. Making this simple nest will encourage them to nest safely your garden. Many species nest underground in old mouse or vole burrows - which this project mimics.
* Do it:
all year round
* Takes just:
30 minutes
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/insects-bumblebee-nest/