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Sat, 7 Nov 2020 18:03:22 -0000 |
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I think that the key is sufficient and varied forage.
When we moved to our current house in the countryside just over 8 years ago,
we planted a small orchard along with soft fruit and a wildflower meadow, as
well as a shrubbery packed with insect friendly plants.
On our one acre plot we keep 6 full sized hives together with around 15
6-frame polynucs used for queen rearing - so quite a density of honey bees.
But we also have large populations of bumble bees (several species) along
with wasps, hornets and so many species of solitary bees that I am not able
to identify them all. Add to that hover flies, other flies, beetles and
butterflies galore it is wonder that we ever get any work done with spending
so much time looking at them!
What struck us very quickly was that honey bees do not work all the flowers
- just a fraction of them - leaving plenty for all of the others who each
fit into their own niches. Of course there are some plants that seem to
attract everything - like the Deutzia; ivy is also alive with seemingly
every species under the sun.
Best wishes
Peter
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W
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