Bees and waterbuckets

[RHGR]

Totally random one and just wondering if other people have a similar issue! I've got a big blue tubtrug I use as a water bucket for the field. The other bucket for water in the field is red. Every day I'm pulling bees out of my water bucket. Sometimes up to 8 of them! But the red water bucket, it never has bees is in. Why are the bees trying to off themselves in only the blue bucket? Does anyone speak bee and have an explanation? Do I need to go buy a different colour water bucket? Are there other colours I should avoid? This is such a strange problem

 

[Flowerofthefen]

No idea on the colours but pop a strand of string over the edge of the bucket to help the bees climb out

 

[Barton Bounty]

Blue attracts the bees i changed my buckets as they were full of bees last summer. Also my poop scoop is blue and if there is water in the bottom the bees end up drowning in it

 

[blitznbobs]

Beekeeper here, it’s very important that bees have a source of water so they will find it where they can … put a floating stick in the water pot so they have something to land on… not perfect but it really helps them out

 

[ihatework]

I have a big blue trug and also have at least 2 bees a day. Yet the water trough right by it on opposite side of fence never has any bees!

 

[AutumnDays]

Beekeeper here! Shades of blue and purple are highly visible and more attractive to bees as they see a different spectrum of colour than us. Either swapping colours or like @blitznbobs said, something floating in it that they can grab onto to get out would help them. If people can leave shallow dishes around with a big stick/pebble in for bees and other pollinators to be able to get water, that would be very much appreciated by them and by people, as it will help keep them going!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Beekeeper here! Shades of blue and purple are highly visible and more attractive to bees as they see a different spectrum of colour than us. Either swapping colours or like @blitznbobs said, something floating in it that they can grab onto to get out would help them. If people can leave shallow dishes around with a big stick/pebble in for bees and other pollinators to be able to get water, that would be very much appreciated by them and by people, as it will help keep them going!

We have put some 'bee baths' in the garden just through the fence from our water trugs and have noticed fewer insects, including bees needing rescue this year. Although I have had to rescue a bee this afternoon. Our trugs are black.

 

[RHGR]

Thank you everyone! Glad to know there's a real reason for it and I'm not surrounded by overly stupid bees will make sure to tie some twine to the handle and leave something floating so they've got a better chance! Will see what I've got to use for a beer drinking station in hopes it reduces the numbers in my water bucket!

 

[Lucky788]

I found green to be the best colour to not attract bugs and insects

I haven’t done an official study but tried blue, yellow and pink and green

As others have said always leave a bit of twine so they can climb out

 

[dixie]

Ahhh, that explains why I find them in my blue trug in the field. I’ll put a stick in !

 

[dixie]

Ahhh, that explains why I find them in my blue trug in the field. I’ll put a stick in !

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Every day is a school day and I’m going to change the bucket colour as soon as I can!

 

[meleeka]

I put a piece of wood in all my troughs, not only to save the bees, but to save the birds as well, as i've found a few drowned ones. It must be a horrible way to go

 

[Lois Lame]

Bees love blue flowers.

People used to put a piece of hessian over the top of a bucket filled with water so that bees had a lot of shore-line to swim to. In those days, feed came in hessian sacks. You cam still get hessian but you have to buy it.

 

[Donkey66]

A colony of bees tend to go to the same water source all year. If the water source (ie bucket) isn’t available early in the year they will find somewhere else and the carry on using that. So, if you can avoid having water available March/April time you stand a good chance of avoiding them all year.
If you know where the hive is put a bucket out close by for them to keep them away from the horses.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have a plate covered in marbles which I fill with water the bees and others use it all the time

 

[Mari]

Totally random one and just wondering if other people have a similar issue! I've got a big blue tubtrug I use as a water bucket for the field. The other bucket for water in the field is red. Every day I'm pulling bees out of my water bucket. Sometimes up to 8 of them! But the red water bucket, it never has bees is in. Why are the bees trying to off themselves in only the blue bucket? Does anyone speak bee and have an explanation? Do I need to go buy a different colour water bucket? Are there other colours I should avoid? This is such a strange problem

I also have a blue trug water bucket & have the same problem with bees, only 1 or 2 so not as many as you. I tied a stone to some cotton tape & dropped the stone into the trug with a good length of tape over the side & tied to the fence.