Working on a new print about the future of pollination featuring wild native bees for Manufactured Ecosystems.
The future of pollination is a huge global concept to tackle artistically. There are issues worldwide, but they’re all local: specific species, stresses on ecosystems & remedies. You can proscribe a general policy like ‘restore habitat’ but you have to be clear that the best plants to help pollinators are those that evolved in a given place. 
This every couple of steps around the sanctuary at the moment.
The sound of #spring.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz buzz, buzz, no buzz, birdsong, no buzz, birdsong, no buzz, birdsong, no buzz, birdsong, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz…
Them queens be out exploring!
Simple.
Joyful.
Vital.
Last bee post for now. I don't want to over do it. Here are the package stragglers making their way in slowly.
Late?
Yep!
Working in one of the meadows all day. Forgot to bring food. Chilly enough so I had to crawl home to take advantage of the small difference in altitudinal air temperature.
Hey if it’s good enough for #bees
What?
What?
#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 82
If food is scarce bumblebees will forage in temperatures as low as 40°F.
They will vary the height at which they fly to and from the nest to take advantage of any small differences in altitudinal air temperature.
Just an example of an insect hotel you should never, ever buy. The jagged ends of the reeds can damage the wings of mason bees as they try to back out. Splinters might even trap them inside. Manufactured by Dobar (Gronau, Germany) and sold by Lidl. #InsectHotel #BeeHotel #bees #insects #pollinators #lidl
Maybe I should ask a bumblebee to chew on a bee fact…then it might arrive early!
What?
What?
I do this for free!
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 81
Research found that tomato plants flowered up to 30 days earlier in response to their leaves being chewed by hungry #bumblebees.
When this behaviour is mimicked by cutting the leaves they only flower 5 days earlier!
#bees
Where have all the bees gone?
Not sure about the reported problems elsewhere, but they're thriving in my garden.
Further evidence we are past the tipping point.
“Bees play a critical role in U.S. food production. In addition to making honey, they pollinate 75% of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the U.S. That's $15 billion worth of crops. Shook said the current losses are unsustainable.”
#climate #ClimateChange #food #bees #science
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bee-deaths-food-supply-stability-honeybees/
Millions of bees in the U.S. have died over the last 8 months. Bees pollinate 75% of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the country.
#UnitedStates #Ecology #Food #Insects #Bees #Pollination #FoodSecurity #Environment
Told you I’d be back!
With today’s fact.
Still not sure if it’s late or not but it’s definitely a goodie regardless of the time.
And I am…
Regardless of the time!
Go easy folks.
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 79
Recent research suggests that if food is scarce hungry #bumblebees will chew on plant leaves - not to eat them - but to stress the plant causing it to #flower thus providing earlier #pollen for the #bees.
Chew on that! 
Late?
Not sure. They’ve been messing with the clocks again…and given my already tumultuous relationship with time…well…it wouldn’t surprise me if this wasn’t even today’s fact!
It’s not?
Ok
I need another fact.
I’ll be back!
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 78
Unlike females, male #bumblebees don’t perform learning flights on leaving the nest. They fly directly away never looking back. 
They do however perform learning flights on leaving #flowers to memorise location.
#bees
I'd love it if we could edit our Bluesky posts. A newer edit and the gear used. Pentacon 50mm Auto MC f1.8 and a Sony A7Cr 
#photography #color #colour #naturephotography #nature #bees #macro
I'd love it if we could edit our Bluesky posts. A new edit #photography #color #colour #naturephotography #nature #bees #macro
Here’s a
#MondayMorningMinute
with #nature here on
The Bee Sanctuary of Ireland.
Take a moment.
Go do some #good.
Have the best week you can.
If you’re not having a good week - tell someone.
And if someone tells you -
Listen.
Really #listen.
#mentalhealth
#wellbeing
#bees #birdsong
#primroses #flowers
#spring
In bee news, male Osmia are showing up at the insect hotel in my back yard (Swarthmore, PA, USA). The females never choose to use these tunnels, sadly, opting instead for the smaller, paper-lined cavities in the wood blocks. #InsectHotel #BeeHotel #MasonBees #bees #nature #pollinators #insects
From this afternoon's walk, a large #bee zooms in on some white flowers against a background of green leaves.
#photography #nature #insects #bees
MORE POLLINATORS NEEDED
Sad news for startups like #HarpHives #Bees
Honey bee colonies could face 70% losses in 2025, impacting agriculture
https://abcnews.go.com/US/honey-bee-colonies-face-70-losses-2025-impacting/story?id=120191720
