Bees in Columbia County - Ask Extension
Hi Chip
We have seen NO honey bees so far this spring and have almost no apples forming on our trees. Is there a honeybee problem here in the north...
Knowledgebase
Bees in Columbia County #871833
Asked June 06, 2024, 1:46 AM EDT
Hi Chip
We have seen NO honey bees so far this spring and have almost no apples forming on our trees. Is there a honeybee problem here in the north county? Last year the bee numbers seemed normal.
Our blueberries, however, are overloaded with hundreds on each plant. :) So there were pollinators for them, but I never saw honeybees, only the large and small bumblebees.
Bumblebees - I keep reading they are gone, but we seem to have a healthy population here. Are we an oasis?
Thanks for any info.
Judy Whipple
Columbia County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Judy,
Beekeepers have reported a good winter, so there is not a shortage of honey bee colonies in the state. So why fewer bees? I have two theories. First, it has been a cool spring, which has limited the good flight days, so the numbers may be down because we have not had many warm days. Also, you may had a backyard beekeeper keeping bees locally in the past, and they may have given up their hobby, lowering the visits in your backyard.
Bumble bee populations are generally healthy in Oregon. There are a few species that have experienced range reductions, but those are generally not seen in garden settings. We have around 25 species of bumble bees in Oregon and the common species that you would seen in a garden all seem to be doing well. Bumble bees are also great blueberry pollinators!
Best,
Andony
Beekeepers have reported a good winter, so there is not a shortage of honey bee colonies in the state. So why fewer bees? I have two theories. First, it has been a cool spring, which has limited the good flight days, so the numbers may be down because we have not had many warm days. Also, you may had a backyard beekeeper keeping bees locally in the past, and they may have given up their hobby, lowering the visits in your backyard.
Bumble bee populations are generally healthy in Oregon. There are a few species that have experienced range reductions, but those are generally not seen in garden settings. We have around 25 species of bumble bees in Oregon and the common species that you would seen in a garden all seem to be doing well. Bumble bees are also great blueberry pollinators!
Best,
Andony
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