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What are the bees up to right now?
Fall Edition
The sunny days are diminishing as summer rolls into autumn, and as the sun descends, the bees’ flight lulls to rest. Bees sense and respond to light and use the sun to orient themselves and navigate. Along with their two large compound eyes that are used for vision, bees have three simple eyes that sit atop their their heads in a triangular formation. These are called ‘ocelli’ and they sense light.
There is a video circulating the internet of honeybees flying in an enclosure in a laboratory. The video shows the researcher turning off the lights in the enclosure, causing the bees to drop to the ground instantaneously, showing how honeybees will not fly in the absence of light.
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Originally posted by postgraduate student Hamish Symington, this video shows bees being studied by fellow student Kristina Buch in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
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We notice similar behavior in the field on days where clouds pass over the sun intermittently.
When the sky is bright, our plants bustle with pollinators, and when shadows come over, most bees are suddenly out of sight. It makes sense that as the days get shorter and colder the sight of pollinators will become more and more fleeting!
Some bees are still coming out during the warm October afternoons, and collecting their final energy reserves for the winter. Goldenrod, Douglas’ aster, California poppy, bee balms, and black-eyed Susan, amongst other late blooming pollinator plants are still providing bees with nectar and pollen during this time of transition.
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Cocoon Cleaning Classes are happening now!
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We'll cover cleaning, maintaining blocks and equipment, and go over updated best practices and advice. You can bring along your blocks and/or tubes, or just come to observe and learn.
Sign up HERE
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As always, thank you for supporting bees!
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Note: Our guidelines are tailored to the Willamette Valley of Oregon. We want blue orchard mason bee cocoons that you purchase from us to be used within the east to west boundaries of the Coastal Range to the Cascades. The northern boundary is the Portland/Columbia River areas and southern boundary is the Umpqua Valley area. Check with your county Extension agent if you live outside these areas.
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Questions? Contact:
Ranee Webb - Email Ranee
Rich Little - Email Rich
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