Has anyone noticed a distinct lack of bees?

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AskUK-ModTeam@reddit

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HeartyBeast@reddit

Quite a few in my garden this year, though not really warm enough for maximum buzz yet

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snakeoildriller@reddit

I saw *one* yesterday on the dog walk - a solitary bee. In contrast, the aromatic garden in our local park was emitting scent for all it was worth but no bees - worrying.

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Kind-Elder1938@reddit

Our bees are under great pressure - not just the honey ones but all of them. Years of constant poisonous chemicals being spread everywhere has not only removed vast numbers of the flowers they rely on for food, but also affects them and makes them ill. Still not enough folk understand that most of our food relies on bee. No bees, no food, no humans. Already there are parts of some countries where people have to go out and painstakingly hand pollinate to try to get a crop. BTW - wasps pollinate too.

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FrostyImplement9565@reddit

If a lack of bees is such a serious issue I’m surprised the media hasn’t scare mongered it out there

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Fatbeau@reddit

Yes, we'll last, what is it, about 3 years if bees die out? People just don't get it.

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2xw@reddit

We wouldn't notice if it were bees specifically as something else would fill that niche, but pollinator decline generally is an issue.

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Exact-Put-6961@reddit

And Bumble Bees are under great pressure from Badger digging out nests

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heroics-delta8s@reddit

Insects grow and shrink on a periodic basis. We don’t really know why, assigning blame to one thing or another is largely conjecture.

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English_Joe@reddit (OP)

I think the massive over use of pesticides has literally been proven, scientifically, in peer reviewed journals.

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Neither_Process_7847@reddit

No fewer than usual here - but the warm spring last year had loads of them out and about by May so maybe it just feels less where you are?

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Grotbagsthewonderful@reddit

Distinct lack of bees, distinct lack of birds, distinct lack of insects, even a lack of garden pests like aphids and slugs (not complaining but it is very strange). I'm not sure if it has anything to do with cold snap at the end of last year but this year's garden has been eerily quiet. I bought a 10kg bag of birdfeed to try and attract some birds, and managed to get some magpies, crows, wood pigeons and few squirrels but not many small birds at all.

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Alert_Mine7067@reddit

I wear a hi vis everyday at work, trust me there is no shortage of the bastards

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DemonicHedgehogs@reddit

I did similar for years. Stand in a field in a hi vis vest for 5 mins and every bee in the county mistakes you for their mummy

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English_Joe@reddit (OP)

Can you come stand near some flowers then? Selfish!!

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Alert_Mine7067@reddit

they're not interested in the flowers apparently

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ActionBirbie@reddit

Possible AI bot: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1t69h2k/wheres_the_birds_and_bees/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1t2v27h/where_are_the_bees/

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ceehred@reddit

More wasps than bees this last year or so. Planning to bed some more flowery plants to entice the bumblers back next year.

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ClimbsNFlysThings@reddit

This gets asked so often, I always reply the same. They're all in my fucking house. All of them.

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stinglikeameg@reddit

Can you do a better job of keeping them in there then please!?!?! I've had two of them in MY house this week, just buzzing around and outstaying their welcome.

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TwoPlyDreams@reddit

Let em out then!

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ClimbsNFlysThings@reddit

Oh I do, the problem is they've setup shop in it! Several of them. We try so very hard to get them out.

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Glum_Kangaroo_4560@reddit

Yeah I often notice there are absolutely none on the blossom in my city. I've been noticing this change since 2019.

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UnacceptableUse@reddit

Bees have started living in my compost bin. Gave me a right fright when I discovered it, nearly dropped my mouldy cabbage. I do think there are less of them around though, but that's a trend that's been happening for years now

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weatherwaxs_broom@reddit

I've been absolutely blessed this year and a small hive of honeybees have taken up residence in a bug hotel in my back garden. Absolutely encouraging them as our bees (and all insect life!) are having a really, really hard time of it.

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JustmeandJas@reddit

I “look after” native solitary bees. Usually I’ll see all the males come out, load of females and find hundreds of dead males on the pavement. Not this year. These are fungus-free, wasp predation-free bees who usually do quite well. However, this could just be mine

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AutomaticInitiative@reddit

It's been bastarding cold I blame it on that. Everything is only starting to wake up at least where I live.

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L-0-T-H-0-S@reddit

Depends on where you are. It's still surprisingly cold, we seem to be getting a lot of wind from the north but - here in North Wales - no shortage or either bees or wasps.

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English_Joe@reddit (OP)

North England. Sheffield way.

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Pepsi_E@reddit

we keep bees in our garden! they're always flying around

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Particular_Meeting57@reddit

I hit 2 huge bees in my van this week.

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Ok_Monitor_7897@reddit

We have a bee hotel in our garden and we have lots of visitors.

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Paull7@reddit

You'll see more soon in that 2 week of summer

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Suedehead88@reddit

I noticed a decline a few years back so I make sure to plant bee friendly plants and flowers. I also started to put up Mason bee hives and there has been lots hatching this year, they are good pollinators. It’s been a much drier spring where I am, which helps.

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Oster-P@reddit

It's been pretty cold recently. I've seen a couple ot bees buzzing around when the suns out and a couple kind of dopey ones sat on the grass when I'm walking the dog. I think once it warms up a bit we'll see a lot more.

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Asleep-Software-4160@reddit

My ceanothus is fuckin' buzzin'.

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Pale_Slide_3463@reddit

No but the wasps are around for sure, found one in my house. Forgot how massive they are 😭 I have noticed the midges are a lot less thank god, not being eaten alive this year.

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StinkyBird64@reddit

Moved house in January, my room is in the loft space, I’m genuinely convinced there’s wasps in my ceiling 😭 keep finding them in my room and outside around our house especially, fucking terrified one day they’ll get through the walls

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Chopsticks_Charlie@reddit

One stung my big toe a couple days ago, absolute cunts mate

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-myeyeshaveseenyou-@reddit

Got a bunch of flowers in my garden, letting my front garden be wild at the moment, back is semi wild but also specific plants I’ve planted. I get loads of bees in my garden

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

Quite the opposite. But then we do have a lot of bee-friendly plants!

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FireWhiskey5000@reddit

As someone who’s afraid of bees I have not seen a lack of bees, I’ve seen too many of them (FWIW I know how important bees are to the environment, I just want them to do that as far away from me as possible)

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ihavetakenthebiscuit@reddit

I've loads on my garden, it makes my soul happy 😄

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Maleficent-Jelly2287@reddit

I'm only seeing dead ones. I do stop, make sure they don't just need a drink and a helping hand onto a flower, but they are really dead. Seems strange. North Yorkshire it that helps.

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geeered@reddit

I read that as bears - and yes, I have noticed a distinct lack of bears.

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Smashcannons@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/sq5jyrbdkd0h1.png?width=450&format=png&auto=webp&s=68f30fec8e24e09a9c7881e03e87a88081e192a0

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thefooleryoftom@reddit

Lots in our garden.

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BG3restart@reddit

I don't usually notice bees in significant numbers until the lavender flowers and it's a bit early for that yet.

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EmbarrassedPea208@reddit

Just today, as me and my father were pulling into the street in his car, we drove through a GIANT swarm of bee's. My dad said they had been lingering for days. Also seen lots of posts on social media around my city that others are encountering similar swarms as they are all trying to find new hives around this time of year. So no, i can honestly say, ive never seen so many bee's in my life than right now!

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dbxp@reddit

Nope, plenty in my garden

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More-Yard5742@reddit

No I killed one the other day

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Fatbeau@reddit

Why? No need to kill them at all!

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Queen_of_London@reddit

There are fewer this year than last year, definitely, but it's also been a colder spring than usual too. Or at least it feels like it has - I'd have to look up stats - but my photo memories stuff has been showing me warm days in the park, and even in the paddling pool in the garden, from this time last year, and we just haven't had that weather yet. Overall, bee numbers are improving slightly, so it might be just that some are still hibernating.

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h00dman@reddit

I've seen a fair few.

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chez2202@reddit

I have bees the size of fucking helicopters in my back yard. Every time I go outside. I can send you some. I also have masses of ladybirds and butterflies. It’s weird because I don’t have plants, grass or trees. I live in a town centre and my yard is basically paving stones. But the insects still love being here.

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AxeWieldingWoodElf@reddit

We’ve had quite a lot in the garden, we live in the Peak District area.

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FakeNordicAlien@reddit

Tons here. One pooped on my yellow linen jacket today. While I was wearing it. Guess it’s not just humans who feel weirdly comfy around me. (Humans at least tend not to poop on me.)

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Imaginary_Garbage_47@reddit

Just as many in my garden for this time of year (hundreds) I have noticed less whilst out and about though.

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Agitated_Camera_6198@reddit

I keep assuming my garden just isn't inviting enough yet. I'm working on it.

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Internal-Leadership3@reddit

Put a hi vis top on and reassess things. I was once climbing up a wind turbine, 30km out to sea, and a big fat bumblebee aimed straight for my fluorescent top, ended up inside my clothes and stung me. WTF was it doing that far out?

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Massive-small-thing@reddit

Seen plenty whilst out walking. It's still spring, give it another month or so. They'll be more🌻🥀🌺🌹

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Unable_Obligation_73@reddit

When I was younger as I drove my car in the spring and summer the windscreen and the front of the car would be covered in dead insects not nowadays but moreso in France

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Dissidant@reddit

Been noticing it for a few years now here. Used to be commonplace to arrive home and find one in the land of nod on the garden wall Free ride to the wildflowers or a drop of sugary water and they are on their way

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Competitive_Test6697@reddit

I did see a post earlier of bees saying there was a weirdo standing outside their home for 5 minutes.

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palebluedot365@reddit

Yes. definitely fewer this year. I’m a gardener, so I do tend to notice this type of thing.

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sunglower@reddit

I have noticed. I am an ex-runner(knee issues and an ageing dog!) And I still go for a quick run of a morning often and walk my dog a lot through fields etc. There are photos of bees popping up in my photo memories, I've not taken any this year, have hardly seen any any. I did nurse an injured queen a few weeks ago (sadly she died) and my friend warmed one up in her hands that same week when she came to stay (she flew off once rested and I think she's been back since) . But other than those few encounters, hardly any about.

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