Gardeners Told to Give Exhausted Bees an Energy Drink 200
In an effort to help Britain's declining bee population, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is urging gardeners to leave out a homemade energy drink for tired bees. The RSPB says that a mix of two tablespoons of sugar with a tablespoon of water makes a perfect bee-boosting drink. Val Osborne, head of wildlife inquiries at the RSPB, said, "Many people keep seeing bees on the ground and assume they are dead, but chances are they are having a rest. Much like us, a sugary drink could boost their energy levels and a simple sugar and water combination will be a welcome treat."
Short Sighted (Score:5, Funny)
The bees will have trouble sleeping at night and by the end of the week they will be in a barely conscious stupor.
Trust me.
Redbull... (Score:5, Funny)
Look, I know a dead bee when I see one (Score:5, Funny)
This is an ex-bee!
Re: Redbull (Score:3, Funny)
Diabetic and Obese (Score:4, Funny)
Next thing you know we will be complaining about a diabetic and obese bee population.
No thanks. (Score:0, Funny)
Weird. (Score:5, Funny)
Many people keep seeing bees on the ground and assume they are dead, but chances are they are having a rest
I don't see them on the ground but they seem to collect in my lawn mower's grass catcher.
.
And So Began... (Score:5, Funny)
...the great UK honey bee diabetes epidemic of 2010.
I really hate being right in advance all the time.
Re:Nice picture (Score:2, Funny)
Such a beautiful picture of a bee and a dandilion...and on slashdot. Awwww.
Nice picture hell, get a load of the bollox on that bee!
Brawndo (Score:5, Funny)
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes. I'm sure bees crave it too.
Re:better idea (Score:3, Funny)
Better idea - Genetically modified superbees.
Prob Sol
Everyone will think this is great... (Score:4, Funny)
Welcome! (Score:2, Funny)
Traps are great (Score:5, Funny)
I hate bees (Score:4, Funny)
I will start feeling benevolent towards these insects once laws are enacted that disallow the posession of both wings and a stinger.
It should be illegal to have both. FOR GOD'S SAKE PICK ONE!!!
Re:Everyone will think this is great... (Score:2, Funny)
Erections
Aren't they Worried... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Try BRAWNDO! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Open sugar water (Score:3, Funny)
Don't let it stand out in the sun too long or it'll ferment. Last thing you need is a bunch of drunk bees and a crashed hive.
Re:Fix one thing, break another... (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe! Certainly hummingbirds will like the sugar water as much as bees do.
Not a problem in Britain
Here's another trick that would probably work if you are only interested in attracting bees to your feeder: Paint it yellow. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, not so much to yellow.
But yellow may attract a flock of song chavs or a legless tree asbo.
Re: Redbull (Score:1, Funny)
Re:What could possible go wrong? (Score:2, Funny)
Do you have any other guesses to share?
Re:Brawndo (Score:2, Funny)
Do you even know what electrolytes are?
...its what bees crave!
Re:Open sugar water (Score:5, Funny)
Bees have "scouts" that go out looking for nectar. When they encounter a good patch of flowers, they fly back to the hive, and they do a "dance" that communicates to the other bees the direction AND the distance to this patch of nectar. Other worker bees then "fuel up" with just enough honey to fly the indicated distance. (I know that it seems unlikely that bees are capable of such organization, but this much has been known for decades.)
On rare occasions, the "directions" can be wrong, or some other problem happens, and a bee does not find the correct patch of flowers. In such cases, the bee can become "exhausted" (it has used up its store of honey). An exhausted bee cannot fly! As mentioned by OP, in fact, people often mistake them for dead. So ANYTHING hanging is not going to do these bees any good.
After having read about this as a child, I tried it on a bee that I found outside and originally took for dead. But then it did move a little. I gave it a sugar+water solution to drink, and a couple of minutes later it flew off. I have repeated this experiment many times, and it has not failed me yet. Except when the bee was actually dead.
Re:Fix one thing, break another... (Score:3, Funny)
But yellow may attract a flock of song chavs or a legless tree asbo.
True! But on the other hand, it'll be safe from the Green Lantern.
Re:Brawndo (Score:3, Funny)
Forgive me, El Guapo. I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior intellect and education. But could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?
Re:Diabetic and Obese (Score:1, Funny)
At least they're not watering plants with Gatorade... yet...
Re:I hate bees (Score:3, Funny)
You are one pathetic city dweller.
I demand second amendment rights for bees!
Also, don't forget that bees are on a suicide mission if they sting you. It really is your fault if you piss them off that much, and they are not some crazy religious humans. Wasps and hornets on the other hand are in a far more western position.
Re:Short Sighted (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Short Sighted (Score:1, Funny)
When I eat nothing but nectar and honey I feel pretty crappy too.