Do honey bees drink water? - Ask Extension
We have bees coming to our bird bath and fountain drinking water, up to a dozen at a time. I would like to know if they are indeed honey bees. Th...
Knowledgebase
Do honey bees drink water? #465969
Asked June 27, 2018, 6:08 PM EDT
We have bees coming to our bird bath and fountain drinking water, up to a dozen at a time. I would like to know if they are indeed honey bees. There are so many. Will they become aggressive if disturbed by normal activity on our patio? We've had these water features for years and this is the first time we have bees coming to them. My main question is, are they honey bees.
Thank you
Thank you
Yamhill County Oregon
Expert Response
Yes these are honey bees. Honey bees collect water when temperatures start to get warm. It's not so much that they're thirsty, but rather that they're taking the water back to the hive to help cool it off. We are advising local beekeepers to place water features in their yard to discourage the bees from visiting neighbors. But fortunately bees that come for water don't behave anything like yellow jackets at a picnic. You'll notice there in a bit of a hurry to carry the water back to the hive. Moreover as temperatures drop they will not be returning. Hope this is helpful.
