Posts by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
(DIR) Post #B1jCznGbtR79mjYTCa by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:00:22Z
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…around 6 weeks during the summer to up to 6 months over #winter due mainly to the lower work load. Male honey bees don’t do winter - dying off before the colony retreat to the hive! In warmer climes the colony works all year round.Next up we have the solitary #bees.6/14
(DIR) Post #B1jCzvg4ceEhs1Wv0C by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:05:07Z
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After mating in spring/summer the female will have prepared a nest into which she will have laid her eggs in individual pods/cells - fertilised eggs will become females and unfertilised eggs often laid nearer the nest entrance will become males. She will have provisioned…7/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD03m2WLlIyqNnPc by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:08:19Z
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…these pods with food before sealing them up. The males and females will have died off shortly afterwards leaving the kids to ‘fend for themselves’. The eggs hatch and the larvae will eat the food provided and develop into adults while overwintering in their pods/cocoons…8/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD0C6tWhCIpqCZ1s by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:11:37Z
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…which is where they are now.And finally to the big girls of the bee world - the bumbles.Towards the end of summer #bumblebee nests come to a natural end - the males, female workers and old queen die leaving just the new queens alive. These queens feed up and go into…9/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD0KXmAdSAzWq92W by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:14:10Z
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…#hibernation (some for as long as 9 months!). They will dig their own hibernaculum usually in loose well drained soil on a north-facing bank (banks are less likely to flood and north-facing means that they are less likely to emerge too early due to unseasonable sunny…10/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD0SnfTQv2b8KwvA by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:16:33Z
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…days heating the soil over the winter). They will dig down about 4/5 inches into the soil and when comfortable enter a dormant state. During hibernation glycerol in the #bumblebee body acts like antifreeze preventing water in the bee body turning to ice. Other preferred…11/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD0afoCXNz14immW by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:20:26Z
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…#hibernation sites include inside tree hollows, under bark, beneath fallen #leaves, #compost heaps and even in plant pots - so be vigilant in your #garden!In the UK and Ireland we are now increasingly seeing ‘winter active’ #bumblebees specifically Buff-tailed bumbles.12/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD0ipJt3kOItEUiW by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:23:17Z
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This phenomenon and how to help bees over the winter I will cover in a separate thread.Hope this has helped increase your understanding of #bees a little.Thread is a generalisation and there are variances between species and regions.Please share among your crew.#repost 🙏🏼13/14
(DIR) Post #B1jD0qtVtLr5KDFxMe by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:27:25Z
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In a world that appears ever more divided, ever more angry, ever more willing to embrace the obvious annihilistic option we refuse to give up on the premise that most #people are #decent. That most people #care deeply.Maybe we can #unite over #bees.Do the right thing for once. Make the good choice.Maybe?Please share this thread far and wide. #repost We know you care.Show us. Show one another.Show the bees you care.It’s okay to care.It’s more fulfilling than hate.14/14 Part 1/2
(DIR) Post #B1jD0ymMZotBmLyMKW by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2025-12-28T20:31:41Z
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More natural than vitriolMore infectious than Covid.More godly than prayer.More active than hope.More powerful than greed.Don’t be afraid to care.Deeply.You’ll find you’re not alone.Promise.Thanks for your time.I’ll shut up now…14/14 Part 2/2
(DIR) Post #B3QdP6EXd2N4MQWFl2 by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:19:54Z
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Okay folks.I have an ask.We need your support here at World Bee Sanctuary to keep going. To keep doing what we do for #bees #nature #people and the #planet. Please take the time to read this thread. We need you to.Thanks.https://gofund.me/e65ad96151/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdPEKrVQBFULXPii by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:22:41Z
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We’ve led the way as the first true sanctuary on the planet dedicated to Native Wild Bees. A #vegan #organic #wild oasis in the midst of a landscape devastated from a #nature perspective.We’ve been at the same time both brutally and beautifully honest in our messaging…2/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdPO875fvNrheNEm by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:24:36Z
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…unafraid to call out bad actors no matter where they operate (often within the environmental NGO space).This has led to us being ostracised and monitored by many within this space. We’ve persevered regardless impacting across the globe on behalf of #bees and #nature… 3/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdPWaPeLJa5mx5SS by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:26:22Z
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… (your feedback tells us this) ensuring that these wonderful, vital, but endangered creatures are represented and better understood in your hearts and minds.We’ve worked at this 24/7, 365 full-time since 2017 and have been protecting this land for nature since 2012. 4/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdPeXW4zkel7et3Q by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:28:36Z
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We’ve thrown everything we have and more at it to keep it going. We’ve suffered for it. And that’s okay because we don’t do this because it’s easy we do it because it’s hard. We understand the commitment required. We’re not complaining. We’re up for it like no one else…5/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdPnLnJwis5NF9X6 by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:30:23Z
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But (there’s always a but!) due to a perfect storm of unfortunate events we now find ourselves facing the prospect of not being able to keep paying the bills/keep open beyond the end of this month.A source of funding we have been working to secure has let us down, our…6/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdPvHpoYJChPS6TI by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:32:13Z
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…machinery which we use to maintain the sanctuary is mostly broken due to age and wear and tear and the relentless rain so far this year has undermined part of our entrance driveway meaning we have been unable to welcome visitors to the sanctuary…so no income.We do…7/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdQ39yXem97LpwKe by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:34:14Z
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…this full-time. This ain’t a side-hustle. We’re all in.Over the years we have refused tainted offers of funding which would have compromised what we stand for. Easy dirty money.So…we need you to step up for us and #bees now. To keep us going and independent during…8/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdQBWbRPd33qU7iC by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:37:16Z
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…this tough period.We hate…literally hate asking…we’re proud people… but we’ll swallow that pride as #bees, #nature and the #mission is and are too important, too vital, for pride to get in the way.So if you want us here doing what we do, on the ground, on your feed, bringing…9/10
(DIR) Post #B3QdQJHeasQN7nYIWO by thebeeguy@mastodon.ie
2026-02-16T00:44:51Z
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…knowledge, inspiration, love, truth and a little bit of fun we need you to help us.You can make a donation or sign up as a patron on our website via the link in my bio or contribute to our fundraiser via this link:https://gofund.me/e65ad9615Sorry to ask. Genuinely.We never have before.We wouldn’t ask now if we didn’t need to.Thanks for reading.Have a good night folks.The Bee Guy.🐝🙏🏼#bees #nature #resist 10/10