Where are all the bees?

[Harping]

Is anyone else noticing a worrying lack of bees? Usually the clover on our grass is full of bees

We've got a hive in our chimney and there are currently hundreds of honey bees behind the fireplace in our bedroom! The bee removal guys we've had out to look at it have all said they've been bombarded with people needing bees removed this year. We also saw a swarm of honey bees on someone's garden fence the other day. So maybe it depends where you are? We're East Midlands.

Lots on the alkanet and ceanothus in my garden

Oh that’s good to hear. We are northern scotland

I'm in westmidlands I haven't seen any bees lately ethier

North Yorkshire, we've got loads. Higher proportion of smaller bumbles to honeybees than usual, I think, but they're swarming our garden.

The day after the thunderstorms I saw half a dozen bumblebees going from flower to flower in my garden. Maybe they don't like the hot rainless days?

Don't often see honeybees, but they're basically all domesticated aren't they? So you'll only see them if you have beehives nearby.

We normally have lots of wasps on laurels too. Maybe they not arrived yet

Plenty in my foxgloves.

Plenty are enjoying the Welsh poppies in our garden this year, going to plant more as they seem to be popular bumblebee flowers! There seem to be lots around us this year which is nice to see.

They’re in my conservatory, I spend hours shooing them
out every day.

Not many here in south Devon
and virtually no butterflies 🦋

They are all on my Ceanothus. We are on the east coast of Scotland.

Our strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are busy.
Our ceanothus full of them.
(London small garden)

I think yours must be round at my house attending a conference. I seem to be seeing more than I usually do.

They need moisture and mud. Make a gloopy muddy patch in the soil and they might pop by.

It's been really hot here for the past few days. I noticed that the bees are out in the morning but from about noon they disappear. Then at about 6 they are back again. I didn't know bees had a siesta but it makes sense!! I've noticed a huge increase in white tailed bumble bees this year but getting all the usual suspects too.

My wisteria is covered in them! (Norfolk)

No mow May left my garden full of bees and all sorts of flying insects. My council doesn't mow the grass verges till later in the summer so the whole area is alive with wild flowers and insects. I'm in the south west.

Northumberland loads in our garden and we've commented several times about them on walks

My Ceanothus is also full of them, not seen many elsewhere though or butterflies for that matter.

East Midlands and I gently escorted two out of my bedroom just this morning, the lilac in the front garden is full of them.

I've been getting less and less bees over the years. This is the first one where I haven't had a "hum" and it's very worrying. Even my poached egg plant and "ant plant" are quiet. East Midlands.

I've never seen so many messages on my local FB pages looking for someone to rehome swarms of bees, so no shortage here

We've got lots - we have lots of bee friendly plants. They also love drinking in the bird bath.

In my roof.