I've been outside feeding lately (using dishes of syrup placed in shallow trashcan lids with a little water in them - to keep out ants). I know the cautions about outside feeding but still choose to do it for now.
Today, I noticed wads of dead bees in the shallow moat outside the bees' feeding dish. I see lots of bees fall from the dish after they load up with the syrup, but the water's not deep enough for them to drown in, so .... what's happening? Are they so weighed down they can't keep the proboscis above water? Seems to me most should be able to simply climb over the dead bodies of their sisters and leave the can lid.
Any ideas as to what I could concoct to keep this from happening? Other than inner-feeding, I mean. I can't come up with a sensible rationale for why this is happening in the 1st place. :s
Thx for thoughts on it ....
Today, I noticed wads of dead bees in the shallow moat outside the bees' feeding dish. I see lots of bees fall from the dish after they load up with the syrup, but the water's not deep enough for them to drown in, so .... what's happening? Are they so weighed down they can't keep the proboscis above water? Seems to me most should be able to simply climb over the dead bodies of their sisters and leave the can lid.
Any ideas as to what I could concoct to keep this from happening? Other than inner-feeding, I mean. I can't come up with a sensible rationale for why this is happening in the 1st place. :s
Thx for thoughts on it ....