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The final definitive answer to CCD, as how it can be fixed, can be found in this article

What's bizarre about all this is that for all the reports we keep hearing about how badly bee populations are doing, I find I can't move for the little buzzy chaps in the garden at the moment. I found one very busy with my Feltham First peas in the PT just now and I keep seeing them fly around the garden. I'd say I see one every time I go outside atm, different sorts - sorry, don't know arse from elbow when it comes to IDing different types of bee but I can see they're different shapes and sizes and have different markings. Today's bee had a huge white bottom and was giving his proboscis thingy a good wipe down! I'm thrilled to see them, long may it last.

Glad to hear it MrsD'ville, I find we have depressingly few round us and I do worry that there are so few around.

This is my first spring in our garden so although I have a whole list of bee friendly flowers to try and get in this year to help them out, they will probably be not be flowering until next year if I grow them from seed - most seem to be perennials - and buying them big is so expensive!

The following link is a good 'un for bumblebee identification, with a nice and easy key:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/ ... olour.html

I have a good wide variety of bee friendly items in flower and have only seen two bumble bees on the allotment this spring. This time last year the place was humming with bees. Only thing that I don't have this year is a plague of dandelions. Could it be my lack of dandelions? Doubt it - the huge sage bush, the rosemary and strawberries were just as attractive but this year - nothing.

MrsD'ville wrote:What's bizarre about all this is that for all the reports we keep hearing about how badly bee populations are doing, I find I can't move for the little buzzy chaps in the garden at the moment.

Same here ... couldn't possibly be the scientific research community at it again could it?

mybarnconversion wrote: Same here ... couldn't possibly be the scientific research community at it again could it?

You shouldn't say that to all the beekeepers who've lost their colonies, and don't know why...

An interesting article I read a few weeks ago with some theories about what the cause could be:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... nvironment

and there I was considering starting up a few hives next year...I have a friend who kept them for years who has given me a lot of advice. This news makes me a lot less optimistic

I am in a very rural area a long way from large agri-farming

is it still worth setting up hives? or is it even more important with all these probelms?

advice gratefully recieved

Turf cutter man wrote: is it still worth setting up hives? or is it even more important with all these probelms?

More important than ever!

I've been thinking about the drop in bee population for some time and decided that I might help (for next year) in a meager capacity by making homes available for non hive species in my small garden. I understand that there is a vast population of "individual" bees such as the Red Mason. Near where I live there is a wall in a very public area that is home to hundreds. Photo at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10615466.
About to buy an attractive nest for these creatures I passed and noticed at the recent NEC summer festival a three foot tall concoction of various types of bricks, old wood, cane, timber, straw, tiles and other material formed into housing for a vast variety of insects, and other creatures. It even featured a refuge for hedgehogs at its base. So I've decided to build something similar for my own garden.
Only, having just read the previous posts, I am hesitant again. It seems to be a more precise art than I thought. Just how deep and to what diameter should I drill holes in timber for bees? And for ladybirds? Should there be a certain distance between habitats for spiders and the rest?

Only a few minutes later I have answered part of my own question finding http://www.insectpix.net/Homes_for_bees.htm .
Still go look at the bee wall though...and any other photos there. Also need to know more about the science of making homes for insects.

I know this site has been posted before. But if you are thinking of keeping bees on a small, organic scale top bar hives are an interesting proposition www.biobees.com

The forum part offers loads of help and encouragement too.

Well, now we know where the missing bees are - on the planet of Melissa Majora, which is presently situated in the Medusa Cascade - according to Doctor Who, anyway!

"You mean the bees are aliens?"
"Not all of them - that would be silly."

glenniedragon wrote:I've heard this theory too, I know of some anecdotal evidence too of when a phone was left on the top of a hive while the beekeeper was pottering around in the shed bees were avoiding returing to the hive, only to do so once the phone was removed so I'm inclined to think there may be something in it. I'm making a point of leaving my mobile behind when I visit my hive now, just in case.

kind thougths
Deb

Yes, I have heard of this incident, I agree with your point of view.