The rosemary is a’bloom. But what happened to the bees in my yard?
A yellow-faced bumblebee searches for nectar from a Sky Lupine flower in Walnut Creek, Calif., in spring 2023.
DEAR JOAN: It is normal to have lots of bumblebees around on our property, especially when rosemary and manzanita shrubs are in bloom.
What is not normal is frequently seeing dead bumble bees on surfaces of our deck and driveway, where they are very noticeable. Might there be a local disease outbreak wiping out hives of honey bees?
— Bruce and Sandra, Point Richmond
DEAR BRUCE AND SANDRA: I found no indication of a new or existing disease infecting California bumblebees. It’s more a continuation of troubles that are decimating bee populations all over the world.
Some California native bees and bumblebees have gone extinct or are teetering on the brink. Honey bees have gotten the most attention, probably because of their value in pollinating food crops, and because entire hives have been lost to colony collapse. Most bumble bees are solitary, though, meaning they don’t build hives, but they do more than their share of plant pollination.
The threats the bumblebee face are three-pronged: loss of habitat, use of pesticides and climate change. This winter has been especially harmful to bees, as we’ve had an unusual number of days and nights at freezing temperatures.
While some bees hibernate through the winter, others try to manage business as usual. Typically, about 50 percent of this population die during the winter, but researchers say the numbers have been increasing and have been particularly high the past two winters.
Part of the problem is that climate change has everyone’s clocks mixed up. The bees generally emerge when plants are blooming. Rosemary and manzanita are attractive to the bees, but the freezing temperatures can be deadly. But if the bees wait for the weather to warm, the blooms might be gone, or at the very least, the food supply would be diminished.
DEAR JOAN: I have a lovely orange tree. The last couple of years something has been sinking two fangs in (the oranges) in the spring, while the oranges are still on the tree.
The oranges continue to grow, and they look perfect other than the fang marks. I feel uncomfortable about eating them or giving them away. (A friend) suggested that possums do this.
Have you ever heard of any animals that could be doing this? Or do you have any hints or tips for animal abatement here without using pesticides?
— Pat Mullarkey, Richmond
DEAR PAT: I’m pretty sure we don’t have any vampire opossums in the Bay Area, and I’ve never heard of any animal that was just into biting oranges, not eating the sweet pulp inside.
I think it’s more likely a fungal or bacterial infection or an insect is to blame. Because you’re only seeing a couple of “fang marks,” it doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, but left untreated, it could become one.
There are a number of products available to treat your tree. Timing is important, and you should follow the instructions on the label carefully. The citrus should be safe to eat. I’d also suggest taking an orange and attached leaves to the Master Gardeners for a diagnosis. They often have help desks at farmers markets.
Animal Life runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
DEAR JOAN: It is normal to have lots of bumblebees around on our property, especially when rosemary and manzanita shrubs are in bloom.
What is not normal is frequently seeing dead bumble bees on surfaces of our deck and driveway, where they are very noticeable. Might there be a local disease outbreak wiping out hives of honey bees?
— Bruce and Sandra, Point Richmond
DEAR BRUCE AND SANDRA: I found no indication of a new or existing disease infecting California bumblebees. It’s more a continuation of troubles that are decimating bee populations all over the world.
Some California native bees and bumblebees have gone extinct or are teetering on the brink. Honey bees have gotten the most attention, probably because of their value in pollinating food crops, and because entire hives have been lost to colony collapse. Most bumble bees are solitary, though, meaning they don’t build hives, but they do more than their share of plant pollination.
The threats the bumblebee face are three-pronged: loss of habitat, use of pesticides and climate change. This winter has been especially harmful to bees, as we’ve had an unusual number of days and nights at freezing temperatures.
While some bees hibernate through the winter, others try to manage business as usual. Typically, about 50 percent of this population die during the winter, but researchers say the numbers have been increasing and have been particularly high the past two winters.
Part of the problem is that climate change has everyone’s clocks mixed up. The bees generally emerge when plants are blooming. Rosemary and manzanita are attractive to the bees, but the freezing temperatures can be deadly. But if the bees wait for the weather to warm, the blooms might be gone, or at the very least, the food supply would be diminished.
DEAR JOAN: I have a lovely orange tree. The last couple of years something has been sinking two fangs in (the oranges) in the spring, while the oranges are still on the tree.
The oranges continue to grow, and they look perfect other than the fang marks. I feel uncomfortable about eating them or giving them away. (A friend) suggested that possums do this.
Have you ever heard of any animals that could be doing this? Or do you have any hints or tips for animal abatement here without using pesticides?
— Pat Mullarkey, Richmond
DEAR PAT: I’m pretty sure we don’t have any vampire opossums in the Bay Area, and I’ve never heard of any animal that was just into biting oranges, not eating the sweet pulp inside.
I think it’s more likely a fungal or bacterial infection or an insect is to blame. Because you’re only seeing a couple of “fang marks,” it doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, but left untreated, it could become one.
There are a number of products available to treat your tree. Timing is important, and you should follow the instructions on the label carefully. The citrus should be safe to eat. I’d also suggest taking an orange and attached leaves to the Master Gardeners for a diagnosis. They often have help desks at farmers markets.
Animal Life runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
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