But will bees abandon the hunt if given a replacement for pollen? I hope the study's long term research adequately measures the impact on pollination before releasing this pollen replacement into the wild. Also how dependent hives handle sudden withdrawal. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
Seems like supplement to foraging as opposed to a complete replacement. Also, the bees would still be out for nectar, which would involve pollination.
Good points. I hope it works out to the benefit of both our species, and the flowering environment. But no short cuts or commercial considerations in the research, please.
There are already many supplements that beekeepers can choose. From specific formulations to literally putting a banana peel in the hive. This new research info appears to be more science oriented than implementation oriented.
This kind of complex thinking will make you an excellent beekeeper one day.
My wife is allergic to bee stings, so I'm not able to keep hives. You'll have to pick up the slack 😊
Damn, that's right! I always think of you as a temporarily beeless beekeeper somehow. 😅 Mason bees would be your only good stingless option, but not quite the same kind of fun.
I did put out a mason bee house a couple years ago, but never bought pupae and didn't attract any willing to settle in
If you put some in it'll likely attract them in the future. Bees like to be in places other bees once lived.
Good idea. And we're hoping that, next spring, we'll have early flowers for them.