I have seen very few bees this year
- Thread starter jltrent
- Start date
kenny thomas
Well-known member
My yard is covered with while clover and I seen 1 bee earlier.
dave_shelby
Well-known member
seen plenty this year but I do remember that with that early warm weather we had we saw bees much earlier than commonly observed
I’ve seen and heard the reports, I lost 1 hive late winter but a buddy in Missouri lost all hives.
People are not taking all this habit loss seriously. Quail, turkey, bees...
Pollinators get sprayed and shredded this time of year all the time. No mow May. You have nesting birds, fawns, and polinating plants all in full swing right now.
There is a big push for native plants in yards too now.
Its coming. I guarantee its coming. Short term gain... long term consequences.
Pollinators get sprayed and shredded this time of year all the time. No mow May. You have nesting birds, fawns, and polinating plants all in full swing right now.
There is a big push for native plants in yards too now.
Its coming. I guarantee its coming. Short term gain... long term consequences.
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chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
I've seen more bees this year than I can remember in the past on all the clover and in the wife's garden. Couple years back she had to pollinate some garden plants manually as there were no bees to be found.
No shortage here either. Also no shortage of grasshoppers either, which to me is shocking what with the cool damp weather.
I have also noticed many more barn swallows than usual. We used to be overrun with them but they’ve been scarce the last few years.
I have also noticed many more barn swallows than usual. We used to be overrun with them but they’ve been scarce the last few years.
Named'em Tamed'em
Well-known member
They've been all over the raspberry's, very calm.
Yall live in fairly remote areas. We are surrounded by 4, top 10 largest cities in the US. We went to Georgia recently and some of those state capitals arent as big as just regular towns around here. Urban spraw is pretty much reaching from large city to large city because the mentality travels with the people to the rural areas.
A mile or so down from us was 5 or so acres on a corner that looked abandoned. It was a beautiful sea of native tall grasses and forbes. An oasis in a desert of over-grazing and herb. We noticed a cover went in, then a camper, then last week a man and woman were both out there with big zero turns mowing the whole thing like a yard.
They probably pay a crew to mow their house in Houston, but bought mowers to do that place.
They obviously aren't bad people but all they know is short, mowed turf. Even when they looked around that property there were no tall grasses and flowers and stuff like that... so they mowed it.
I think if some one could have talked to them before hand, or even now, and helped them make a plan, a lot of that could have been saved, and preserved. People don't even know how special those areas are and the purpose they serve any more.
We need more education.
A mile or so down from us was 5 or so acres on a corner that looked abandoned. It was a beautiful sea of native tall grasses and forbes. An oasis in a desert of over-grazing and herb. We noticed a cover went in, then a camper, then last week a man and woman were both out there with big zero turns mowing the whole thing like a yard.
They probably pay a crew to mow their house in Houston, but bought mowers to do that place.They obviously aren't bad people but all they know is short, mowed turf. Even when they looked around that property there were no tall grasses and flowers and stuff like that... so they mowed it.
I think if some one could have talked to them before hand, or even now, and helped them make a plan, a lot of that could have been saved, and preserved. People don't even know how special those areas are and the purpose they serve any more.
We need more education.
Mrcopier
Well-known member
Ya driving across the hay meadow the grasshoppers look like water splashing up as you drive through it
There was bee keeper selling honey at he Madison square garden during the basket ball tournament between the Spurs and the Knicks. He keeps bees on top of the flat top buildings in New York City. I found that interesting. I have a hive in a tree that bowled over. I have bought a poly bee hive and plan to set it is close to the log and see if the bees will move in. I do not know much about this. I think I will brush the frames in the lower box with honey and see if that will help.Yall live in fairly remote areas. We are surrounded by 4, top 10 largest cities in the US. We went to Georgia recently and some of those state capitals arent as big as just regular towns around here. Urban spraw is pretty much reaching from large city to large city because the mentality travels with the people to the rural areas.
A mile or so down from us was 5 or so acres on a corner that looked abandoned. It was a beautiful sea of native tall grasses and forbes. An oasis in a desert of over-grazing and herb. We noticed a cover went in, then a camper, then last week a man and woman were both out there with big zero turns mowing the whole thing like a yard.
They obviously aren't bad people but all they know is short, mowed turf. Even when they looked around that property there were no tall grasses and flowers and stuff like that... so they mowed it.
I think if some one could have talked to them before hand, or even now, and helped them make a plan, a lot of that could have been saved, and preserved. People don't even know how special those areas are and the purpose they serve any more.
We need more education.
Stuff like that is awesome. If every one does a little bit it goes a long ways.
The swallows are usually all thru my hay barn. Not a one this year. This drought has been tough on pasture and hay but the bugs have been pretty tolerable. I assume that is why no swallows. A lot of the flowering grasses and plants either are just now coming out or were a no show this year.
chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
I've never had a shortage of barn swallows. They decend on this place like a plague. Every evening I walk under the barn lean too roof with a fiberglass pole and remove there nests.
Nick Wagner
Well-known member
Went through the no bees thing here a few years ago, so son in law built some bee hives to help the population, every one died out last winter. Caught two swarms this spring. Barn swallows came back like always, didn’t try building nests under the house eaves like they do some years.
Honey bees are not native to North America. Technically they are an invasive species. Honey bees compete (outcompete) with native bees. There are many known adverse effects of honey bees on native bee populations and flora, as well as disease transmission to native bees. Maybe honey bees are more of a problem than a solution?
TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
People who destroy swallow nests -- Swallows mate for life and fly south to Argentina in the winter. Then they fly back to the place they were hatched to nest in the place where they were born. Each one eats100's of thousands of mosquitos and flies. If you want to knock down the nests please do it after they leave for the year.
I have bees. My place is named Milk and Honey Farm. Honeybee population has declined throughout the world because of an invasive mite from China. Imagine yourself with several ticks the size of a dinner plate attached to you. That is what it's like for a bee. These mites spread through a hive in this way. Bred females hang around in the brood boxes where workers raise baby bees. When the baby is old enough to be sealed up in wax to finish developing the mite goes in and lays 4 eggs. When the bee chews through the wax to begin her productive life she already has 4 mites on her. These spread throughout the hive and it weakens and dies.
I control varoa mites by using Avipar Strips. They are like the old timey No Pest strips. I put 2 in each brood box (there are 2 brood boxes) This kills the little SOBs. Right now the blackberry bloom honey flow is on. My 'employees' are packing the honey suppers right now (special boxes just for honey comb).
I have bees. My place is named Milk and Honey Farm. Honeybee population has declined throughout the world because of an invasive mite from China. Imagine yourself with several ticks the size of a dinner plate attached to you. That is what it's like for a bee. These mites spread through a hive in this way. Bred females hang around in the brood boxes where workers raise baby bees. When the baby is old enough to be sealed up in wax to finish developing the mite goes in and lays 4 eggs. When the bee chews through the wax to begin her productive life she already has 4 mites on her. These spread throughout the hive and it weakens and dies.
I control varoa mites by using Avipar Strips. They are like the old timey No Pest strips. I put 2 in each brood box (there are 2 brood boxes) This kills the little SOBs. Right now the blackberry bloom honey flow is on. My 'employees' are packing the honey suppers right now (special boxes just for honey comb).
Nick Wagner
Well-known member
My pasture and hay fields used to buzz, not anymore. As to whether that’s good or bad is open for discussion. Then too, used to have those big black ox flies when we moved here, I counted fifty on one side of a cow once, now only see a few per year. I’m sure that’s a good thing.
TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
Those big black ox flies - Are those Horse flies? Maybe they are fewer because the larvae require an aquatic stage and it's been so dry. I remember one time I was (seemingly) nearly drowned swimming across a lake and suddenly felt a terrible pain on my shoulder, something biting me. It was a horse fly. I kept swimming under water but it got me again and again. IT REALLY HURT. Dadgummed insects.
Search Assist
A horse fly typically lives for 30 to 60 days, but its entire life cycle, from egg to adult, can take up to a year, with some larvae stages lasting up to three years.
Search Assist
A horse fly typically lives for 30 to 60 days, but its entire life cycle, from egg to adult, can take up to a year, with some larvae stages lasting up to three years.
Overview of Horse Fly Life Cycle
Horse flies undergo a complete metamorphosis, which includes four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The entire life cycle can take up to a year, depending on environmental conditions and species.Life Cycle Stages
| Egg | Female horse flies lay eggs in clusters on objects near water. Eggs hatch in about one week. |
| Larva | Larvae are aquatic or semi-aquatic, feeding on organic matter and small invertebrates. They undergo 4 to 9 molts and can take from a month to several years to mature. |
| Pupa | After the larval stage, they enter a pupal stage before emerging as adults. |
| Adult | Adults typically live for 30 to 60 days. They emerge in late spring to summer and are active during warm months. |
Additional Details
- Larval Development: Some larvae can take up to three years to fully develop, depending on environmental factors.
- Feeding Habits: Adult horse flies feed on nectar and plant exudates, while females require blood meals for egg production.
- Mating: Mating often occurs in flight shortly after adults emerge.
1982vett
Well-known member
They are free to build in any barn, shed, building, bridge.....but stay the hell off the house! Goes for pretty much all vermin...got acres and acres to do with what they will...just stay away and out of the 1 acre around the house.
