Bumble Bees
 

Just heard on the radio that they are in 'short supply' and that some are
being introduced into the country????

We have dozens of them here and have had so for quite some time. Is it
because my wife is a 'flower gardener'? More interested in flowers than veg?
(In fact we have no veg this year)

Have you got Bumble Bees and where are you in the country? Is this a
zone/area thing?

Mike
Very Sunny South East Coast of the Isle of Wight. ........... Beautiful day
--

....................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight.

....................................

Bumble Bees
 

On 29/05/2012 10:07, 'Mike' wrote:
Just heard on the radio that they are in 'short supply' and that some are
being introduced into the country????

We have dozens of them here and have had so for quite some time. Is it
because my wife is a 'flower gardener'? More interested in flowers than veg?
(In fact we have no veg this year)

Have you got Bumble Bees and where are you in the country? Is this a
zone/area thing?


I think you slightly misheard the radio announcement. It is the
short-haired bumblebee which has been reintroduced to this country. It
had been declared extinct, and has been absent of 24 years.
http://bumblebeeconservation.org/new...fter-24-years/

--

Jeff

Bumble Bees
 

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
...
On 29/05/2012 10:07, 'Mike' wrote:
Just heard on the radio that they are in 'short supply' and that some are
being introduced into the country????

We have dozens of them here and have had so for quite some time. Is it
because my wife is a 'flower gardener'? More interested in flowers than
veg?
(In fact we have no veg this year)

Have you got Bumble Bees and where are you in the country? Is this a
zone/area thing?


I think you slightly misheard the radio announcement. It is the
short-haired bumblebee which has been reintroduced to this country. It
had been declared extinct, and has been absent of 24 years.
http://bumblebeeconservation.org/new...fter-24-years/

--

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. The bit in the report in your link ....... ""The Short-haired
bumblebee is one of 27 bumblebee species native to the UK"" ..... 27
species!!......... explains my lack of knowledge on the subject. To me, and
no doubt to many others who would never admit it, a Bumble Bee is a Bumble
Bee!!

Mike

--

....................................

I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight.

....................................

I think you are mixing two things up.

Bumblebees in total are not as numerous as usual because of the record-breakingly cold April. But that doesn't mean there are none, just fewer.

One particular rare bumblebee that had become extinct in Britain has been reintroduced. It is rare, so won't make much difference to total numbers, and was never intended to do so.

Bumble Bees
 

In article , lid
says...

On 29/05/2012 10:07, 'Mike' wrote:
Just heard on the radio that they are in 'short supply' and that some are
being introduced into the country????

We have dozens of them here and have had so for quite some time. Is it
because my wife is a 'flower gardener'? More interested in flowers than veg?
(In fact we have no veg this year)

Have you got Bumble Bees and where are you in the country? Is this a
zone/area thing?


I think you slightly misheard the radio announcement. It is the
short-haired bumblebee which has been reintroduced to this country. It
had been declared extinct, and has been absent of 24 years.
http://bumblebeeconservation.org/new...fter-24-years/

A friend of mine went to Chelsea this year, someone was
selling/promoting colonies of bees for gardens. Apparently these bees
do not produce honey in any great amount and are not regular swarmers,
with each colony producing about 200 bees, dying off each year and
leaving a few queens to over winter. They seem to be useful in
pollinating and generally providing a talking point in the average
garden.
Does anyone know any more about them?

Bumble Bees
 

On Tue, 29 May 2012 16:03:37 +0100, prb wrote:

In article , lid
says...

On 29/05/2012 10:07, 'Mike' wrote:
Just heard on the radio that they are in 'short supply' and that some are
being introduced into the country????

We have dozens of them here and have had so for quite some time. Is it
because my wife is a 'flower gardener'? More interested in flowers than veg?
(In fact we have no veg this year)

Have you got Bumble Bees and where are you in the country? Is this a
zone/area thing?


I think you slightly misheard the radio announcement. It is the
short-haired bumblebee which has been reintroduced to this country. It
had been declared extinct, and has been absent of 24 years.
http://bumblebeeconservation.org/new...fter-24-years/

A friend of mine went to Chelsea this year, someone was
selling/promoting colonies of bees for gardens. Apparently these bees
do not produce honey in any great amount and are not regular swarmers,
with each colony producing about 200 bees, dying off each year and
leaving a few queens to over winter. They seem to be useful in
pollinating and generally providing a talking point in the average
garden.
Does anyone know any more about them?

There are a number of companies that sell "hives". One example is
Dragonfli (www.dragonfli.co.uk). Downside is that you're talking £70
for a "Beepol Hive" which is a cardboard and plastic affair. You then
need something to put it in. Another £130 gone. Then you have the wax
moth problem for which the solution is another tenner. So you'll be
spending over £200 for something that will last this year. Chances are
any queen left over at the end will fly off somewhere else leaving you
to clean the hive container (another fiver). And before you start you
need something for them to feed on, not just plants you want them to
pollinate.

These are bumblebees not honey bees so no "crop" for you.


Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the asylum formerly known as the
dry end of Swansea Bay.

Bumble Bees
 

On Tue, 29 May 2012 12:45:18 +0100, Mike wrote:

To me, and no doubt to many others who would never admit it, a Bumble
Bee is a Bumble Bee!!

www.bumblebee.org

--
Cheers
Dave.