7 August 2023
For those who’re not on X, previously generally known as Twitter, you missed this very informative thread in regards to the motive why native bumblebees sleep on flowers in July (and August).
The thread was posted on 22 July by The Bee Man @the_beeguy, Paul Handrick, describing the habits of untamed bees in late summer time. It catapulted him to fame and prompted an article in The Irish Instances about The Bee Sanctuary of Eire, based by Handrick and his spouse Claire-Louise Donelan. It’s the one wild bee sanctuary on the planet.
Handrick’s data may be very well timed and, as a result of I’ve but to search out it anyplace else, I’ve embedded @the_beeguy’s thread under. The social media platform X, previously generally known as Twitter, is in flux so I don’t understand how lengthy his thread shall be accessible. (I’ve observed that it could actually take some time for the tweets to come back in.) Learn it whilst you can! It’s price it.
And take a look at The Irish Instances: The Wicklow couple with the world’s solely wild bee sanctuary: ‘They’re in hassle’.
Spoiler alert:
To sleep on a flower could seem romantic and magical however the actuality can appear extra tragic than magic for the bumblebees concerned.Flower sleeping #bumblebees are primarily males.
They don’t have a dad.
As soon as mature, males go away the nest and by no means return.
2/16 pic.twitter.com/7LJQkX7sSs— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
…foraging in inclement climate or too late & dropping mild, low vitality & pure finish of life. However right now of 12 months – mid to late summer time – chances are you’ll discover a giant enhance in ‘flower sleepers’ and most of those will probably be males. So let’s check out male #bumblebees..
4/16 pic.twitter.com/5NOVi1UTUV— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
…mom the queen. When creating as larvae they require extra meals and for an extended time interval than feminine employee larvae. Mockingly later of their brief lives males won’t ever forage for pollen and nectar to contribute to the nest however think about foraging for nectar…
6/16 pic.twitter.com/ShCRQ7Cz1P— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
…to keep away from inbreeding (take be aware some people ?).
That is the place the ‘flower sleeping’ begins. Having no properties these males will now spend their days actively looking for a brand new queen to mate with and meals to maintain themselves. They are going to journey as much as 17 kilometres in a single day…8/16 pic.twitter.com/2nVEkU2cNI— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
…particular peak preferences at which they patrol spreading their queen attracting scent. Some work their magic within the tree tops whereas others are extra all the way down to earth! Regardless of mating being their raison d’être the unhappy truth is that only a few males (estimates put it at much less…
10/16 pic.twitter.com/YV4wwZmR2M— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
…of the tibia that’s. (Cease it!). Males with longer fore and hind legs are extra profitable at mating.
So these torpid #bumblebees that you simply discover early morning on flowers right now of 12 months – particularly #thistles as males have a candy tooth and thistle nectar is…
12/16 pic.twitter.com/PQIH9rN7l1— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
All females develop a stinger however the equal a part of the physique in males develops into the genital capsule.
When males increase that center leg to warn you to again off it’s only a bluff with no sting to again it up.
So relating to #bumblebees the males…
14/16 pic.twitter.com/ExR587BW2X— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
Hope this offers somewhat little bit of perception and creates somewhat extra #empathy in direction of these great creatures.
Thanks for studying.
Please share to unfold additional the information. #retweet
And please do nonetheless dream of sleeping in #flowers.
Have an important one!#bees
16/16 pic.twitter.com/ikggmMZ0QQ— The Bee Man (@the_beeguy) July 22, 2023
(picture from Wikimedia Commons, tweets embedded from @the_beeguy)
