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

@Harping swarming is a bee colony’s way of reproducing, it’s a sign of a healthy colony with enough bees to split itself in two (half the bees stay behind in the old nest/hive). If they’re not doing well they usually dwindle and get weak rather than swarming.

I’ve seen them buzzing around my honeysuckle plant this afternoon

East Mids and they're taking it in turns to fly in and out of my kitchen and living room to watch my 9yo do a really annoying shriek and dance number to avoid them (they'd leave her alone if she just sat still).

We’ve had loads of bees and beetles in the garden this week. I keep having to rescue them from the paddling pool.

I've seen loads x

Thanks @diymesss that’s very interesting

They’re all over my lavender and rose bushes ( Dublin)

For the second year running we have thousands of bees building a hive in our compost bin. It is a dalek style bin which is boiling hot. I am amazed that the wax hasn’t melted to be honest.

I am quite chuffed that there are so many bees here…but a little scared of being stung.

All killed off by the previously banned pesticides the government have allowed to be used again after being lobbied by British sugar because they need more beets to make us sugar.

Lots on my laurel hedge, hawthorn and geraniums

We are in London and have noticed a reduction in all insects, including bees. It's sad and very worrying, and is not helped by our corrupt govt allowing previously banned pesticides to be used again.

Anyone who is missing bees - they are all in my roof. Busily honeycombing away and reproducing at a rapid rate 😬 the local bee-keepers can't shift them as the queen is buried in the rafters somewhere. The council don't remove honeybees. The only way to get rid of them is to cut a panel in the ceiling or the roof 😭 my insurance doesn't cover bee damage or bee removal.

I am sick of people asking how 'our bees' are doing! They are not my bees, I don't want them, but I think they are there for the long haul 😞

Things that do not discourage determined bees:
Incense
Citronella
Expanding foam in their entrance points
Shouting 'shoo bees'
Whacking the roof with a big piece of cardboard
Fully suited bee keepers vacuuming them up
Bee-keepers sweeping them into a polystyrene box

Oh - and bees and wasps can live together in harmony, as we also has a wasps in there too

Mine are normally thick over the clover but they seem to be more interested in the honeysuckle just at the minute. They'll maybe come for the clover when the flowers they really love have died.

I have tree bumblebees in my bird box, they are thriving. I can see their nest starting to appear above the entrance to the bird box so I’m slightly concerned they’ll outgrow the bird box. I’m not sure what happens then.

They are fascinating to watch, they are very defensive and prevent any intruders from getting near the nest. I’ve watched bigger bees, possibly buff-tailed bumblebees, trying to access the nest.

• I'm in west central Scotland, never seen so many bees before.

I love this thread. My bee knowledge is expanding rapidly!

I have so many bees in my garden. Pyracantha tree is in full bloom and attracting so many, as well as Campanula.

My lavender couldn't be more prodigious. Hants.

But no bees.

This is Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring'.

We're fekked.

Bee friendly plants everywhere, also weeds and dandelions in part of the garden and nothing this year (midlands Ireland):(

Loads of swarms here in Northants/beds borders. Poor local Bee Whisperer run off his feet.

I’m near Oxford.
we had a swarm arrive a few weeks back and gather around a tree branch in the garden. It was apocalyptic, honestly. Kids terrified.
I contacted a local beekeeper and he said all his hives had died off in the winter but in the last month there had been so many swarms that all his hives were now full and also the other people he knew locally. He explained it as nature sorting the balance out, a lot had died so numbers would now increase.
Anyway the bees stayed for 4 days, which is unusual. They were about 10 feet up and very little to bother them. Finally they left by themselves.
I was glad they went and hope they are ok, but seeing that swarm arrive was something else, never again I hope.
So yeah, bloody loads of them here.

Lots of bees enjoying my roses. Agree with others, I really haven’t noticed any butterflies yet and think I’ve only seen a couple of ladybirds.

I love sitting on the lawn and watching the bats just as it’s almost dark. Your “dance” description is spot-on, it’s mesmerising to watch them.

Not quite as much fun when one mistakenly flies in through the kitchen door and flits between ceiling beams 🤣 🦇

Where are all the bees?
They're round at my dad's. Truckloads of 'em. They adore a plant I always thought was Star of Bethlehem but apparently not. Small, blue, grows in crevices and up walls.

We must have them all in rural Wales. We've had to put two extra hives up