Re: bee question

In a message dated 3/30/99 11:23:44 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Meconella@aol.com writes:

> The last few days bees have been hanging out near my empty stacked inverted
>  flower pots.

   In my notes about swarm scouts I probably should have added that is would
be quite rare for them to choose flower pots (unless they are huge). They'll
look over anything that provides a cavity. I've seen them move into old steel
drums, engine compartments, combines and other farm machinery, even large
birdhouses. But most often it's a hollow tree, a house soffit or uninsulated
wall cavity, a chimney, or a church steeple.

   I also should have noted another possibility, which usually happens
earlier, unless you are in northern Alberta or Alaska.  Bees coming out of a
long winter with no pollen reserves left, are desperate for protein, normally
provided by pollen. They will gather flour, grain dust from bird or animal
feeders, and sometimes even sawdust or dry dust. I think the season for this
is over now in the "lower 48." Even far north locations have some pollen by
now. This behavoir ceases as soon as there is real pollen.

   Again, a lot depends on where you are, Janet.  All this is null and void,
if you are in Australia, etc........

Pollinator@aol.com     Dave Green  Hemingway, SC  USA
The Pollination Scene:  http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
The Pollination Home Page:    http://www.pollinator.com

Jan's Sweetness and Light Shop    (Varietal Honeys and Beeswax Candles)
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm
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