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A next door neighbor where I have a couple of hives mentioned yesterday that he had laid a floor mat over the cinderblock wall to dry. It had gotten soaked with water when they had some sort of leak in the building.
He told me that during the afternoon the bees had completely covered it, sucking up water. I keep a pan of water near the hives full of water and pine straw, but this colorful mat was much more attractive. It was brightly colored, and was medium high nap, between those flat entrance mats and a fluffy bath mat.
Here in the desert it doesn't take long for water to evaporate, but the idea of a soaked carpet or mat as a water source is kind of interesting. It eliminates the drowning problem, it can be hung up high, and it seems the bright colors attract the bees. Food (or water) for thought.
He told me that during the afternoon the bees had completely covered it, sucking up water. I keep a pan of water near the hives full of water and pine straw, but this colorful mat was much more attractive. It was brightly colored, and was medium high nap, between those flat entrance mats and a fluffy bath mat.
Here in the desert it doesn't take long for water to evaporate, but the idea of a soaked carpet or mat as a water source is kind of interesting. It eliminates the drowning problem, it can be hung up high, and it seems the bright colors attract the bees. Food (or water) for thought.