Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Tue, 4 Mar 2008 12:59:42 -0500 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" |
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
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
****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm *
****************************************************
|
|
|