The buzz around town is that bees seem more aggressive and active this year. Many are wondering – why are there so many bees? And why are they behaving badly? As a beekeeper and enthusiast, I wanted to dig into the reasons behind this surge in bee and wasp activity.
The Reports of Higher Bee Activity
There’s no doubt about it – beekeepers, farmers, and everyday folks have been reporting majorly increased bee activity in 2022.
Some key signs that bee numbers seem higher:
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More bee swarms showing up in odd places like chimneys, shed walls, etc.
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Larger numbers buzzing around trash cans dumpsters and other human food sources.
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More complaints of stings from aggressive bees.
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Farmers and gardeners seeing bees crowding vegetable flowers and fruit crops.
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Beekeepers observing larger hive growth and honey production.
So what’s behind this population boom and behavior shift? Let’s explore some leading theories.
Factors That May Be Driving More Bee Activity
Warmer Temperatures
- The last few years of warmer winters and earlier springs have boosted bee survival rates.
- More bees are making it through cold months to start colonies in spring.
- Early warm weather also stimulates faster build-up of hive populations.
Good Rainfall
- Rainfall provides more blossoming plants and flowers for bee foraging.
- Abundant wildflower “super blooms” are attracting more pollinators.
- More food sources allow bee colonies to expand rapidly.
Less Pesticide Use
- Efforts to reduce pesticide use are supporting bee health and survival.
- Lower chemical exposure enables colonies to thrive and grow stronger.
Natural Fluctuations
- Hive populations can fluctuate up and down annually for many reasons.
- Natural cycles may be leading to periodic “boom” years for bees.
New Queen Bees
- Old queens declining leads to more colonies making new queens.
- Young, vigorous queens boost egg laying and colony growth.
Of course, a combination of factors is likely at play. But the key point is that environmental conditions have enabled more bees to flourish this year.
Why Bees Are Displaying More Aggressive Behavior
With more bees buzzing around, why are they also behaving badly? Here are some of the reasons behind aggressive bee activity:
Competition for Food
- As colonies expand, competition grows for limited flower nectar and pollen.
- Bees become more territorial over food sources, leading to fights.
Nest Disturbances
- Activities like mowing, construction, etc. can disturb bee nests.
- Agitated bees defend their homes aggressively.
Shorter Foraging Range
- Less food variety forces bees to concentrate foraging closer to the nest.
- Frequent human contact triggers defensive behavior.
Changing Seasonal Conditions
- Rapid weather shifts from warm to cool can make bees more defensive.
- They eat more to prepare for winter, making them more territorial.
Genetics
- Some strains naturally show more aggressive tendencies.
- Increased reproduction of these “angry” bees leads to more incidents.
Parasites and Disease
- Varroa mites, viruses, and other issues stress bees.
- Stressed bees have a lowered aggression threshold.
Lack of Water
- Hot, dry conditions lead to a need for more water foraging.
- Bees get “hangry” and irrationally aggressive around water sources.
Once again, multiple factors are likely combining to spark increased bee-human clashes this year.
Tips for Avoiding Stings and Supporting Bees
While this year’s bee situation may seem concerning, there are ways we can avoid conflicts and help our buzzing neighbors:
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Avoid swatting – Slow, gentle movements are best around bees. Don’t swat or crush them.
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Watch your drinks -Bees are attracted to cans and cups of sweet drinks. Cover or pour out drinks when not sipping.
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Cover trash bins – Seal food waste containers tightly so smells don’t attract bees.
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Plan yard work carefully – Chainsawing or mowing can anger nearby nests. Opt for cooler evenings when bees are less active.
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Provide water sources – Put out a birdbath, fountain, or bee waterer so bees don’t congregate at pools or pet bowls.
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Plant bee-friendly flowers – Nectar and pollen plants provide food sources that keep bees away from humans.
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Contact a beekeeper – If a swarm or nest appears, remain calm and call a local beekeeper to safely relocate it.
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Support organic practices – Choosing organic food and products helps reduce pesticide use that harms bees.
Looking Ahead to Future Bee Activity
While extra bee activity has been inconvenient for many, it’s important to remember why bees are so critical – pollinating our food crops and wild plants. With some planning and patience, we can find ways to coexist safely with our busy buzzing neighbors. And frankly, a few more stings seem a small price to pay to support these vitally important pollinators.
Hopefully actions to aid bee health will moderate activity levels while still sustaining healthy bee populations. With dedicated efforts to understand the forces impacting bees, we can continue creating an environment that meets the needs of bees and humans alike.
The key is balancing safety with environmental support. Maintaining perspective, avoiding overreaction, and taking proactive steps will help smooth the way forward. With some flexibility and care, there are certainly brighter days ahead for people and bees sharing spaces and places.
Late summer and early fall are when these stinging insects become even more of a nuisance than in the dead of summer. These tips can help you stay safe.
While it’s still summer, bees and wasps can be even more of a bother in late summer and early fall. The air is getting colder, so these bug-like things are hunting for their last meals before winter comes. Wasps, like yellow jackets and hornets, are out looking for anything they can get. Honeybees are collecting nectar from the last flowers of the season before going back to their hive for the long winter.
Bees, Wasps, Yellowjackets – Which is which?
When people talk about stinging insects, they usually just call them “bees,” but honeybees are different. Honeybees are gold to orange in color and have stout fuzzy bodies. Though they will sting if threatened, they are rarely aggressive.
Wasps: Wasps are smoother and narrower than bees, and much more prone to sting without warning. You can find wasps in many different colors, but the most common ones are black and yellow. This is why wasps and bees are often mixed up. Paper wasps have thin bodies and orange antennae.
Yellowjackets: The yellowjacket is one of the most likely pests to ruin a late-summer picnic. It is an aggressive wasp that likes a lot of different foods, including sweets and high-protein foods like hot dogs and hamburgers. They have wider bodies and black antennae. See s below. Honeybees Paper Wasp – Paper wasps have slender, segmented bodies with a thin waist. Paper wasps also have orange-tipped antennae. They dangle their legs when they fly. Yellowjacket – Yellowjackets have shorter and thicker bodies than paper wasps and have black antennae. Yellowjackets tuck their legs under when they fly.
Why There Are No King Bees
FAQ
Why are the bees so bad right now?
Why are bees so aggressive right now?
Why are there so many bees out this year?
What is the current issue with bees?
Are bees still struggling?
“That tells you the flower was adequately pollinated in the spring,” he says. Bennett recalls hearing stories about the collapse of honeybee colonies when he was in high school. Across the country bees were disappearing from their hives. Now, a new survey of beekeepers finds bees are still struggling.
What if we don’t have bees?
For farmer Hail Bennett, the bee is paramount. Without bees there are no blueberries. “It’s important for people to understand and remember where their food comes from,” Bennett says. Beekeepers lost nearly half of their honeybee colonies last year. Without bees, farmers can’t grow the fruits and plants that feed us.
Why do worker honey bees die?
Worker honey bees will forage for food whenever temperatures rise above about 50° Fahrenheit. When it gets colder, they cluster in the hive, huddling with other bees, eating honey reserves and shivering, which helps keep the bees warm. In the spring, the adult worker bees start flying again. That means they also start dying.
Are bees dying?
Bees are essential to life as we know it, and they are dying at an unprecedented rate Almonds, blueberries, apples, cherries and more – honey bees pollinate 80% of flowering plants in the U.S. In fact, one-third of our diet – our favorite foods that keep us healthy and happy – needs bees to grow.
Why are honeybees dying off?
But those chemicals coat the seeds of many crops, and the amount of pesticides that reside on plants that honeybees pollinate is a huge factor in bees dying off. Schmaeling says certain farming equipment is also responsible for affecting soil health, coating plants in pesticide powders and depleting soil of essential nutrients and microorganisms.
Why are bee deaths on the rise?
Parasitic mite Varroa is visible on a dead bee in a hive, Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in College Park, Md. A new survey says America’s honeybee hives just staggered through the second highest death rate on record. The mites are a major factor why bee deaths are on the rise. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)