can bees drown in water

Can Bees Drown in Water? How to Prevent Bee Drowning

Bees are amazing pollinators that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Their ability to fly from flower to flower makes them excellent pollinators. However this also puts them at risk of accidentally falling into bodies of water and drowning.

As a beekeeper and gardener, I often ponder about bee safety and how we can prevent these precious pollinators from drowning. Through my research and personal experience, I’ve learned a lot about bees and water. In this article, I’ll share tips on how to provide bees access to water without risking drowning.

Why Bees Need Access to Water

Bees need water just like any other living creature. They use it to:

• Regulate temperature and humidity in the hive
• Dissolve crystallized honey
• Feed larva
• Convert nectar into honey

During warm summer months, a single hive can consume over a quart of water daily! Without adequate water sources nearby, bees must expend precious energy flying farther to find water.

Can Bees Drown in Water?

The short answer is yes, bees absolutely can drown if they fall into deep water.

Bees breathe through spiracles, or tiny openings on their abdomen. When these spiracles get wet, bees cannot get air into their systems. Their wings also get waterlogged, making it impossible to fly. Without access to air and flight, bees will quickly drown if they cannot extract themselves from the water.

Even very small amounts of water pose a drowning risk. I once witnessed a bee struggle to stay afloat in a thimble-sized puddle! Any amount of water deeper than a bee’s height puts them in danger.

Common Water Sources Where Bees Drown

Certain water sources are especially treacherous for our busy bee friends. Here are some common culprits:

• Birdbaths – The steep sides and smooth porcelain make it nearly impossible for a bee to escape.

• Pools – Chlorinated water attracts bees, but they often misjudge distances and plunge right in.

• Pet water bowls – Bees spot the sheen of water but can easily become trapped.

• Puddles – Shallow as they may be, bees still risk drowning without an exit strategy.

• Fountains – These can be tricky due to the constant motion of water cascading down.

As you can see, even shallow water poses a serious threat to bees. But there are steps we can take to allow bees access to water safely.

How to Provide Water for Bees Without Drowning Risk

If you want to support the bees in your garden, providing a safe water source is one of the kindest things you can do. Here are some tips:

• Use shallow dishes or trays filled with water, rocks, marbles, or pebbles. The pebbles give bees a place to perch and drink.

• Add sticks, twigs, corks, or sponges to the water. These give bees something to grip as they drink.

• Put out wet sand. Bees can drink water expelled from the sand.

• Offer drips or streams of water instead of standing water.

• Maintain a muddy, wet area in your garden. Bees collect and drink the mud.

• Set bee baths in sunny spots so the water is warm. Bees prefer warm water.

• Add stones and pebbles to birdbaths and fountains to give bees “rafts.”

• Check water sources frequently and rescue any struggling bees.

DIY Bee Watering Stations

With a few simple materials, you can create an ideal bee bath station:

• Fill a wide, shallow pan or lid with marbles, then add water just high enough to submerge half the marbles. The exposed marbles give bees a place to perch and sip water safely.

• Poke holes in the bottom of a plastic container. Fill with pebbles and invert over a shallow dish. The pebbles serve as safe “islands” for drinking bees as the water drips through.

• Float corks, sponges, and sticks in any water feature. Space them just far enough apart for bees to hop from one resting spot to the next.

• Add a layer of pebbles to a birdbath, leaving the middle open for birds. The pebbles around the perimeter provide bees access to water.

With a bit of creativity, you can design bee baths made from recycled items already in your home and garden. Monitor them and change the water frequently to prevent mosquitoes.

Keeping Bees Safe Near Water

Whenever bees and water intersect, we must go the extra mile to prevent drowning. Other tips include:

• Inspect pools, fountains, and ponds for struggling bees. Scoop them out gently with a net.

• Check puddles after rain, and soak up excess water to eliminate drowning hazards.

• Place large stones in ponds and other water features to give bees places to rest and dry their wings.

• Encourage wet bees to dry off on towels or tissues. This helps them groom water from their wings faster. Never let them crawl into towels, or they risk getting stuck and overheating.

• Avoid moving hives near large bodies of water, if possible. Place them at least 20 feet away from ponds and pools.

• If you have backyard ducks or chickens, check their water troughs frequently for bees in need of rescue.

• Teach children not to spray bees with water guns or sprinklers. Sudden soaking can easily drown a bee.

A Bee’s Life Depends on You

For creatures so small, bees have an enormous collective impact on our food supply and ecosystems. Providing them with reliable, safe access to water is a small way we can support their populations. With a few simple steps, our yards and gardens can become an oasis free from the risk of drowning. Be observant, be proactive, and be a hero – you might just save a life. Our precious pollinators depend on us!