Bumble Bees

There are over 50 known species of bumble bees in North America. Most of us are familiar with these fuzzy fat pollinators. They are a common sight among flower beds and gardens throughout Missouri as well as all of the United States. Each spring I spot the first bumbles in the middle of April as the weather starts to warm. These are the young queens that have overwintered in some obscure shelter, hidden away from the harsh winter weather. These new queens will be searching for proper areas to build their hive, and for food. Often times they will dig out an underground cavern and lay their eggs in the cells they create. Sometimes they will use hollow trees, or old buildings. After securing a home base she will then seek food for her offspring. The food that she gathers will be used to store within the hive in little "honey pots." It is this store of food that she will survive upon and feed her young with. She alone will feed these new larva, and she will not leave them, they must be kept at a constant temperature and she uses her body to provide the correct warmth (30 degrees celsius). Once they have pupated and matured into the adults we all know and recognize, these new bumble bees will then take over the hive duties and the queens job will be egg production. These new workers will be sterile females, they will not mate. They instead will gather pollen and nectar for the growing brood and will guard the hive and perform other hive duties. Late in the season the queen will lay eggs that will be males. Once these eggs have hatched and the little grubs have fully developed the queen will mate with these male offspring. The resulting eggs from this union are destined to be fertile females capable of mating. These young females will mate at the end of the warm season, usually in the fall. As the weather turns colder the colony will die, with exception to the young mated queens. These will find shelters to overwinter and the cycle will begin again with the return of spring. For the past week I've seen several of these bees buzzing around our flower beds. They have been nectaring at the honeysuckle, wild plums and crabapple blooms. Generally speaking these foragers are not aggressive. This year I have noticed a difference in their behavior, they seem much less tolerant of my presence, I've been dive bombed several times. Although I have not been stung, it is intimidating to have them come right at you with those loud humming wings and a very angry attitude. I stand my ground and they give up the pretence. I've also found several hives on our property. While I've walked the boundaries of our land I have noticed these bees hovering close to the ground, then they land, and disappear underground. Within a few minutes they return to the surface and fly off. I know of 6 potential hives. Seems we will have a busy bunch of buzzing bumble bees soon (say that fast 3 times, hehehe). Most of us have heard that if a honey bee stings you, it will die. This is absolutely true, they have a barbed stinger that comes detached after penetrating your skin, this in effect rips their guts out and they perish. Bumble Bees on the other hand do not have a barbed stinger, therefore they are able to sting numerous times. It would be a very unpleasant experience to have a large bumble bee mad at you. In mid summer you will see an increase in the number of these bees, this is due to the fact that the males (drones) have appeared on the scene. They are actively seeking mates and foraging in our gardens. DON'T PANIC" This increase in numbers will cause you no harm, they are unable to sting, drones possess no stinger. Don't let the presense of these large bees keep you from enjoying your outdoor activities. Truthfully unless you disturb the hive or act aggressively towards them you have nothing to fear, they do not wish to have a confrontation anymore than you do. Remain calm and motionless and chances are they will pay you no mind at all.

Missouri's State Insect

Honey Bees are Missouri's state insect and I can't think of a better insect to have represent our state. They are hard working, industrious, mild mannered and they aid in pollinating over 130 known plants. Including, many fruits, vegetables, grain crops, forage crops and more. With the recent controversy of the Colony Collapse Disorder, there has been much concern about the demise of the Honey Bee. Much research has been done to try and determine what has contributed this apparent mystery disease. Some headway has been made, with the discovery of a mite among many of the bees. Researchers feel this mite is responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder that has effected many hives throughout the country. With the threat of the disappearance of honey bees there has been much concern among many citizens. How would we overcome a crisis such as the loss of such a much needed resource as the Honey Bee? How would the crops we've come to enjoy or even depend upon get pollinated? What insect would be able to step up and take the place of the Honey Bee? These are questions deserving of much thought. Hopefully with the discovery of this mite it will put an end to Colony Collapse Disorder and the Honey Bee will be able to rebound to it's former numbers. In my yard there seems to be no shortage of these bees. I have a mystery bush blooming beside my house that is bringing them out in big numbers. My Bradford Pear is in full bloom and is equally covered in bees. I've found that they are extremely gentle when out foraging for nectar and pollen. I am able to get them to crawl onto my fingers with no fear of being stung. Near the hive would be a different story. When they have a Queen and honey stores to protect you can expect a different and much more aggressive personality to surface. Who can blame them? If someone showed up at my house and took my food and threatened my family I'd probably sting too (if I could). Last September my husband and I made a trip out to Happy Holler Conservation Area near my house. We discovered honey bees and bumble bees nectaring at the thistles and clover. What was so unique about this situation, not that they were nectaring but that the honey bees DID NOT want those bumble bees to be there. The honey bees we literally attacking the bumble bees. They were crawling all over them, biting and toe tapping them. It was actually kind of funny to see. The much larger bumble bee took no notice of them at all. It was as if a mere gnat was pestering them. They went about their business much to the aggravation of the honey bee. They were smart enough to not sting the bumble bees, obviously knowing this would be paying the ultimate price for their greed. No self respecting Honey Bee wants to die, which is exactly what happens when they sting. Their barbed stinger becomes embedded in the skin of their victim and detaches itself, pretty effectively ripping the guts right out of the poor ol' bee, who gives her life either to protect herself or her Queen. All bees found away from the hive gathering nectar and pollen will be female workers. They live about 4 to 6 weeks and work from sunup to sundown at a constant pace to provide for the hive. A Honey Bee's life is a hard one. No time for fun here. The drones or males are the loafers of the hive. They exist only to mate with females. They too pay a big price for their ardour. After mating, they will lose their sexual organs, which remains attached to the female. His guts are removed and he perishes. The drones do not have a stinger, therefore cannot sting. Late in the fall the remaining drones are forced out of the hive by the female workers. They have outlived their usefulness. Their loafing is only tolerated for just so long. They die in the cold while the females form a ball around their queen to guard her and keep her warm. They will rotate position, the bees on the outside moving to the inside of the "ball" to gain warmth, and the ones inside moving to the outside to take their turn where it is cooler. An average hive will need approximately 60 pounds of honey stores to survive the winter temperatures. Honey Bees are capable of flying at speeds of 15 mph, and beat their wings 11,400 times per minute which gives them that distinct "buzzing" sound. I am always so excited when these little gals show up in my yard. I am happy for the service they provide to my plants.