Penrith ‘Bee Man’ calls on residents to help hot bees
A western Sydney beekeeper has revealed the devastating impact that sweltering conditions have had on his bee colony, as he advises people how to aid the insects during hotter-than-usual weather.
Penrith
Don't miss out on the headlines from Penrith. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Wallacia cemetery: Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Trust overhauls plans for Nepean Gardens
- Western Sydney Airport: Is fuel dumping a concern?
A St Clair beekeeper who lost almost 200,000 bees during extreme heat last Saturday is now calling on residents to help make sure it doesn’t happen to any wild hives.
Carl Skinner, the Penrith ‘Bee Man’, said he lost four hives that are now unrecoverable on January 4 when the temperature hit a sweltering 48.9C.
“Anything over 38C is starting to get warm for bee colonies,” Mr Skinner said.
“They can handle anything up to 40C well for short periods of time, but they can’t get enough water back to the hive to cool the colony down if it gets any hotter.
“They’ll take water back to the hive, drop it in the bottom and start fanning it throughout the hive, but they’re finding it hard to source a water supply.
“If the water supply they’ve been using has dried up, they’ve got to find a new supply. If that’s further away, they don’t back in time to keep the hive cool enough.
“The hive will start melting, almost like a candle melting in the sun. The wax is where they store honey, their babies and the pollen, so if that’s all melting down, it’s gone.”
Mr Skinner said a simple bowl of water in your backyard would help bees survive the summer.
“A meltdown will kill the colony,” he said.
“There are ways we can help out in urban areas, and some are already doing it without knowing.
“Just a little bowl of water under your tap will be a permanent water supply for a colony near your residence.
“I suggest people chuck in a little sponge or cloth in there so the bees don’t drown.
“If you have a pool, leave a pool noodle in there so they can climb on it and fly away.”
Mr Skinner said while bees can be a little more aggressive in smoky conditions, they’ll usually give you a warning before stinging.
“Bees don’t want to sting you, because they’ll die if they do,” he said.
“They’ll usually fly into you before they sting you to let you know they’re getting a bit angry. If you just walk away slowly they’ll leave you alone.
“Slow movements are good, because they’re not threatening to the bee. Fast movements will make them feel threatened, and that’s when they’ll sting.”