Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: OzBuzz on November 27, 2012, 09:44:08 pm
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Hi Folks,
I've seen quite a few, what look like, Sugar Gums in flower - along with that I'm seeing huge swarms of insects hanging off the flowers too - I'm assuming they're pinching the liquid gold! does anyone know what they are? and, other than pinching the nectar, do they stop the bees from foraging on that nectar source?
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G'day Oz,
Have you got a photo or description of the ones you're seeing? I'm seeing a fair few of these around lately Green Soldier Beetles (http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/26_12468.htm) but they seem to be more beneficial than harmful.
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They're the ones! I wonder if they're consuming the nectar from the flowers if there isn't enough aphids etc for them to feed on
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I dunno, the article mentions sugar solutions and honeydew but not nectar. You would have to wonder though. Perhaps you need to spend a half hour or an hour observing.
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Not in this heat ;)
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Yeah, I got home early thinking I might open up the hives; that is, until I turned on the AC and grabbed a beer.
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G'day Oz,
There is an article in the Sunday Herald Sun today 13/01/13 that talks about these being in plague proportions this year and says that the adults DO eat pollen and nectar. That might explain why I'm having such a lean year this year; nearly mid summer and I haven't had a harvest yet. Another bloke I know with hives a couple of K's away says it's the worst year he can remember around here.
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G'day Oz,
There is an article in the Sunday Herald Sun today 13/01/13 that talks about these being in plague proportions this year and says that the adults DO eat pollen and nectar. That might explain why I'm having such a lean year this year; nearly mid summer and I haven't had a harvest yet. Another bloke I know with hives a couple of K's away says it's the worst year he can remember around here.
were bad around here too they tend to clump up on the ground and on branches i made up some pyrethum spray and killed thousands, think there were some small amount of bee casualty's but not many i was careful not to spray the bees if i could help it, the bugs drop immediately so i was able to hose down the branches and get rid of residue quickly. its just a small drop in the ocean but i think it helped a bit around here theres not so many now.
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We live in NE Victoria and have an invasion of Plague Soldier Beetles, they have covered our gum trees and they seem to have driven the bees away :(
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Yep, that seems to be the scenario state wide! it seems that all insects are under pressure for food resources