To wonder where the bees are

[Fuckitydoodah]

I've noticed a real lack of bees so far this summer. My garden would usually be full of them once the flowers are out.

I went on a dog walk through fields earlier and barely saw any. It's been hot and sunny here this afternoon and I've seen only 2 or 3 in the garden. I've got a lot of lavender and in previous years it's been covered in bees.

Has anyone else noticed a lack of bees?

Is it because we had a cold and wet spring and now a fairly crappy summer? Or is there a more sinister reason like the use of pesticides?

Yes have noticed aswell

It's been too cold for them. I've found a few on the ground and took them in to warm and have some honey. Most sadly haven't made it. 😔

Insects of any kind: hoverflies, beetles, flies, even spiders. We're in deep shit.

Yes, we were saying that only yesterday.

The garden is pretty much in full bloom now but no bees and no butterflies. The garden is usually full of them especially as we deliberately planted flowers to attract them.

I purposely put plants in this year that attract bees and I've hardly seen any , my garden is full of flowers but barely any bees 😔

I've had a fair few in my garden and they like wildflowers. Alkanet, Russian sage etc.

Lots of bees on my lavender today, although agree about the butterflies
Maybe depends on location

There was a massive swarm at my daughter's riding school this weekend. She managed to get stung on the ear

My lavender bushes are usually smothered with buzzing bees at this time of year, but I've only seen the odd one or two. I'm really worried about them.

Not enough flowers is only part of the problem.
The ground dwellers will be flooded out . You might see tree bumblebees. They nest off the ground at the roofline or in bird boxes. White bottoms I think are the clue!

Bumblebee conservation group have so e id sheets so you can work out which ones you see.

Now you mention it. I’ve not seen that many

This. It's really worrying.

The previous government kept approving bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides in the UK that are banned in the EU.
Loss of bees is another Brexit benefit 👍

I keep wondering where they are too; and then start thinking about the world ending...

Yes my garden is normally full of them. Apart from that hot week where it was buzzing it’s been pretty bare. Seen a lot on the floor when out on walks though and rescued a few from the pool.

Start building bug hotels, places for solitary bees and other pollinators to live. We need to be more proactive in making our gardens more wildlife friendly. Flowers of different shapes and sizes attract pollinators with different sized mouths, so it's good to plant a wild variety of offerings. If you really want, look into natural beekeeping methods, where you don't disturb the hive at all, or only once a year at most.

Fretting and hand wringing won't fix it, we have it in our power to support the ecosystem in these ways.

We have a shrub in the garden known as the bee bush, it is usually buzzing with activity in late spring and full of honey bees and bumble bees, but this year there has been hardly anything. We had a few butterflies a few weeks ago, but havent seen any for ages. There were also plenty of wasps in late spring and they also seem to have disappeared which doesnt really bother me. We are seeing quite a lot of garden spiders which seems very early. Very worrying

There seems to be plenty in my garden at the moment.

My hebe and geraniums have quite a few on them.

Don't have many butterflies but the buddleia isn't fully out yet.

We have loads here, of all kinds. But we are rural.

Big butterfly count:

https://butterfly-conservation.org/discover-and-learn/activities-and-resources/big-butterfly-count-2024

We're not getting a proper summer this year. It's too cold and wet for them.

Loss of habitat, climate change and pesticides.

People need to stop killing them.
The other day a poster was saying she pours kettles of boiling water on ants nests.

I’ve only started seeing a lot of bees since yesterday. Every year I have many in my lavender bushes. I was starting to worry. I think it has just been too wet and cold. I was so happy to finally see them

I was going to cut the grass earlier but the clover was full of bees so I left it