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?