With all the hot dry weather we have been having (especially in Auckland and Northland) bees can have a hard time finding water to drink.
Bees will collect water from the same place over and over, once they know it’s there. Not keen on fresh water straight out of the tap bees prefer stagnant ditch water, slimy flower pots, muddy puddles, or a pile of wet leaves, which can all be hard to come by when there has not been any significant rain.
Unfortunately bees are also attracted to the smell of salt and chlorine, which are frequently added to swimming pools and many end up drowning.
Once you have made your bee station don’t worry if it goes a bit slimy or smelly, bees like this and there will be more nutrients in it for them. They get most of their nutrients from nectar and pollen, but some water sources are also rich in micronutrients and vitamins that are also helpful.
It’s very easy to create a bee drinking station and give these incredibly important insects a much needed place to collect water.
How to make your bee drinking station
Get a container that does not have steep sides, you don’t want the bees to fall in and get stuck and drown. It’s essential to have a place for bees to stand, I like to use marbles for this as they are functional and look pretty.
Get a saucer and put the marbles (or stones) into it, then fill with sugared water so the tops of the marbles are sticking out. Place in an area of your garden where bees are most likely to find it.
You can also use a small bucket with water almost up to the top and place little ‘rafts’ in it, anything that is small and floats will work, try corks, sticks, empty peanut cases etc.
Spike your water with a little sugar to attract the bees, or if you have any old oyster shells crush them up and add to the water, the faint salty smell will attract them. Once the bees find it, they will empty it quickly and come back for more.
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