Bees
are fascinating and important creatures. However, they do have one
characteristic that's not so appealing to us humans: They sting!
The best strategy to avoid bee stings while continuing to enjoy
the many benefits of having bees in your yard is simply to know
a little bit about where bees are and what they are doing.
If
you get out early enough, it is sometimes possible to see striped
male anthophorids with long reddish-brown antennae sleeping in flowers
of Cosmos bipinnatus. Later on in the day, the most popular bee
flowers will be covered with territorial male bees zipping back
and forth, charging and tackling other bees and shoving them off
flowers in a constant battle for dominance. It is hard to imagine
the nerve of some of the smaller bees, which attack bees three times
their size - especially since their threatening gestures are all
a facade. Despite their occasional aggressive behavior, male
bees of all species are stingless. One way to distinguish females
from males is that, on a good day, females' legs, head, or bellies
- depending on the species - are covered with bright blobs of yellow,
purple, or white pollen. Females spend most of their time shimmying
through pollen and sipping nectar from their favorite flowers, while
males are frequently attending other business.
Contrary
to conventional wisdom, bees are not aggressive. To a bee biologist,
behavior that appears aggressive would be more aptly characterized
as defensive. Most bees are simply too busy to take notice
of human observers. There is one exception - Africanized honey
bees (which have not yet reached northern California) and some
species of bumble bees which will defend their nests against
perceived intruders. During the course of our research, we have
had the opportunity to watch thousands of bees in action, taking
notes on their behavior within several inches of their stingers. We
have never had to wear protective gear and have never been stung
on the job! Moreover,
as we continue to collect data on urban bees, we expect to provide
gardeners with useful information on which flowers to plant in
order to attract - or avoid - honeybees and native bees. With
just a little awareness about what bees are up to - for example,
pollinating the white clover, Trifolium repens (see photo),
in your lawn - it is easy to enjoy these wonderful little creatures
without ever being stung!
Bees
are fascinating and important creatures. However, they do have one
characteristic that's not so appealing to us humans: They sting!
The best strategy to avoid bee stings while continuing to enjoy
the many benefits of having bees in your yard is simply to know
a little bit about where bees are and what they are doing.
If
you get out early enough, it is sometimes possible to see striped
male anthophorids with long reddish-brown antennae sleeping in flowers
of Cosmos bipinnatus. Later on in the day, the most popular bee
flowers will be covered with territorial male bees zipping back
and forth, charging and tackling other bees and shoving them off
flowers in a constant battle for dominance. It is hard to imagine
the nerve of some of the smaller bees, which attack bees three times
their size - especially since their threatening gestures are all
a facade. Despite their occasional aggressive behavior, male
bees of all species are stingless. One way to distinguish females
from males is that, on a good day, females' legs, head, or bellies
- depending on the species - are covered with bright blobs of yellow,
purple, or white pollen. Females spend most of their time shimmying
through pollen and sipping nectar from their favorite flowers, while
males are frequently attending other business.
Contrary
to conventional wisdom, bees are not aggressive. To a bee biologist,
behavior that appears aggressive would be more aptly characterized
as defensive. Most bees are simply too busy to take notice
of human observers. There is one exception - Africanized honey
bees (which have not yet reached northern California) and some
species of bumble bees which will defend their nests against
perceived intruders. During the course of our research, we have
had the opportunity to watch thousands of bees in action, taking
notes on their behavior within several inches of their stingers. We
have never had to wear protective gear and have never been stung
on the job! Moreover,
as we continue to collect data on urban bees, we expect to provide
gardeners with useful information on which flowers to plant in
order to attract - or avoid - honeybees and native bees. With
just a little awareness about what bees are up to - for example,
pollinating the white clover, Trifolium repens (see photo),
in your lawn - it is easy to enjoy these wonderful little creatures
without ever being stung!