by You have undoubtedly seen bees flooding around flowers or even between grass shuffles, but if you shake them on the sidewalk, it can raise various questions – not least: “Are you okay?”
Even if they are still alive – the average lifespan of workers is only four to six weeks – occasionally land on the ground for various reasons.
Amy Ross, a senior ecologist at Kent Wildlife Trust, explains Yahoo UK why this happens and what is crucial, what you can do to help you.
What kind of bees are you?
It is important to note that there are more than 250 bees in the UK – 24 of which are bumblebees.
Hummel can be identified with this helpful diagram from the Bumblee Conservation Trust and are most likely the way you can see on site.
In addition, around 70% of the global bee species largely lead to single people and also underground. They do not live in colonies like honeybees.
Why are bees on the ground?
“There can be various reasons for bees on site,” explains Ross. “This could be due to pesticides, but more than age or exhaustion will be the main reasons. The workers only live about four to six weeks and bumblee nests are only active for a few months a year.”
She adds that early bumblebees begin in March, but die until July and are the most likely to be seen during this time.
“Many on towns are most likely at the end of their lifespan,” she says. “In Dürren, when flowers fight and water is scarce, more bees can lie on the floor.”
What can I do when I see a bee on the ground?
“If the bee is still moving and moves in a risky place (ie handling strip), it is best to move it with a sheet, a branch or even with clothing,” recommends Ross.
“Moving to flowers or water nearby and seeing whether they start drinking can help exhausted bees. Sometimes bees only have to rest for a moment and move them from Harm’s way is the simplest act that everyone can do.”
However, Ross emphasizes that it is best to give them sugar water: “It is not very healthy and does not give all the nutrients that a bee needs.”
Why bees are important
There are a number of reasons why bees are so important. They not only help to pollinate food and flowers, but also the cattle and support our ecosystem – and in turn affects our health and well -being.
“It is estimated that farmers in Great Britain would cost around £ 1.8 billion a year to manually dust their harvests without bees,” explains Ross.
“In addition, they dust the gardens and allocations of people and are massively important for the environment through this service – to ensure that we have a good supply of fruit and vegetables every year. They are also food for many other species.”
How else can you help bees
Ross says that some other measures you can take to save bees are:
-
Plant local wildflowersLike tetches – or even growing vegetables and herbs can deliver food for bees.
-
Setting up a bee hotel This is at least 10 cm deep that can support lonely nesting bees. If you find a bumblebees nest in your garden, let it be – it will be gone in a few months.
-
Avoid digging gardens in winter And when you find a hibernation queen Bumblebee, put it back and gently cover it with earth.
-
Do not use pesticides And hug a “chaotic” lawn with all its dandelions and knock.
Read more about nature and gardening:
