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Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers

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  • From: Randall Austin <ra41717 AT gmail.com>
  • To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org, Rachel Watersong <rachelwatersong AT fastmail.com>
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Bee nightclub?
  • Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2016 21:23:10 -0400

Hey Rachel,

The article <here> talks a little about bees and water. They typically prefer water with a bit of a kick to it. For example, clogged gutters with rotten leaves and rain-filled sunken cowpies are well known as bee favorites. I often see large hordes of bees working over the surface of my gravel driveway after a rain, obviously getting whatever it is that they want from the damp ground.

The article <here> by CG Butler details research into the bees' water preferences. Just a little bit of gunk in the water is ideal; too much is repellent. FYI, Dr Butler died recently at 100 and some years old; he was a tremendously prolific and groundbreaking apiculture researcher, well known for his work regarding queen pheromones.

Now, your bees may be getting into your flower pots for some completely different reason, but this answer is consistent with what you say is happening.

Randall Austin

On 7/9/2016 7:49 PM, Rachel Watersong wrote:
1468108187.2630575.661682169.332BB751 AT webmail.messagingengine.com" type="cite">
Hi bee friends and mentors,

First year beekeeper here with a mystery.  I have two hives, both
started as nucs in May.  They're both low in stores and I didn't feed
them last week because I ran out of sugar.  Yesterday and today I've
noticed that several bees (like 5 at a time) are going up to a plastic
flowerpot in the backyard, poking their heads into the little holes in
the bottom of the flowerpot, and busying themselves in some way.  The
flowerpot is full of ordinary potting soil.  

What might they be doing? Are they getting some nutrition from the
potting soil?  They have a watering bowl right near the flowerpots, so I
don't think they're getting moisture.

Any ideas?

Rachel Watersong




  • [ocba] Bee nightclub?, Rachel Watersong, 07/09/2016
    • Re: [ocba] Bee nightclub?, Randall Austin, 07/09/2016

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