permaculture

[KNat <knat@sprintmail.com>]

This week I've stumbled upon 2 non-honey bees doing the same dazed 
movement of the lost honeybees I've run into. 1 bumble, 1 carpenter. As 
notably odd as the honeys. (I'm still looking for resources on bee dances.)

The carpenters seem about the same in numbers overall near their nest 
sites. But their flight patterns are not the same as past years. Many 
more spiral cycles in changing direction. And they are gathering pollen 
in larger groups. One tree they are using almost every flower, despite 
occasional honeys, when they previously used about 1/10 normally 1/4 
peak. And more seem aimless (we've joked past couple years about the 
"mellowing" of the bees around here and that some seem happy to just 
sit.) Sometimes they just sit on the deck with an energy pattern that 
looks like elderly people in senior centers "waiting for inspiration." 
(not the same as the occasional wide-eyed male on the prowl, at all. 
Very undirected.) I just brought the honeys in last year so I expected 
carpenters would change as they balanced and have sat with them a few 
years first to be aware of the change (okay, you've probably figured who 
the comparison is the bees are becoming like, but they don't seem to be 
studying, they're just sitting:)
Anyone else noticing change in their other bees?

Peace,
Kathyann