With temperatures in N.Y. near 40 degrees, bees from my single hive were 
flying and frequenting nearby crocus flowers. I also noticed a relatively 
large number of bees (dozen) working the compost heap. I expected them to 
be gathering sugars and/or moisture from the variety of veggies and fruits 
that were laying on top of the heap. However, on closer inspection I 
noticed that all the bees were crawling on coffee grinds, and none were on 
any of the fruit/vegetable remains. I didn't have glasses with me, so I 
couldn't see if the bees were actually 'licking' the grinds, but they were 
certainly crawling through them.

I was worried about the effects that any caffeine ingested by the bees may 
have on individual bees, or the hive behavior as a whole, so I buried the 
coffee grinds.

Has anyone observed anything like this, and if so, any explanations?

Dick Cartwright
Stony Brook, NY

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