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Bumble Bees
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Posted by rob_a 8b S TX (My Page) on Sat, Oct 17, 09 at 19:47
| I just saw the most amazing thing. I've had Bumble Bees at my Salvia all summer. They light on a Salvia bloom, reach inside with a rear leg and get the pollen out. I've always resented them for taking what was intended for my hummers. My hummers just ignored them.
Just now, I watched one of my two females chasing a bumble bee away from the flowers. Three times! I've never seen that. Talk about territorial, I thought hummers were afraid of wasps and bees, but she's not. As small as a hummingbird is you'd think a sting would kill them. Has anyone ever seen that? I'll try to get a video of it tomorrow, it's getting dark now. |
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RE: Bumble Bees
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| rob A sting could and most likely would kill a hummer. But some hummers are more bold than others , I have seen this many times even against wasps which are also very aggressive. Bumblebees are not aggressive so its not much of a problem for a hummer to bluff a bbee. When they go head to head with a wasp its a little different and I know youve heard me talk about all the wasps I have here. Since a hummer can fly in all directions it does help. |
RE: Bumble Bees
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| Do you have Anna's hummers? I've read they are the most aggressive. Mine certainly are! I think mine would definitely chase a bee; they try to chase me off! I just bought a ton of new salvias, and now the alpha male has really gone bonkers. I watched him slam another hummer into the deck yesterday! I think it's time to cut him off... no more new salvia plants! LOL |
RE: Bumble Bees
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- Posted by rob_a 8b S TX (My Page) on
Tue, Oct 20, 09 at 20:53
| Vodoo, I don't have Anna's. Wish I had some to go along with the others I have. The hummers here at the moment are RT females. I was all primed to get a video of her chasing the bumble bees Sunday, but strangely there were'nt many bees around the next day. I wonder why. ;) Thanks Steve. I've been lucky this year and have been mostly free of Yellow Jackets. |
RE: Bumble Bees
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| Well, I think I've figured out why my Anna's male has gone nuts. Today I saw a hummer that I did not recognize... I think it was a Costa! I thought those were only in SoCal, but apparently they are known to visit the Bay Area as well. Boy, was there some fighting action out there today! Must not be over the Anna's female... probably just the salvias. :) Today I bought a Grevillea (and a Correa), having read that they bloom in winter. The hummers found it *immediately*, LOL. |
RE: Bumble Bees
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| I was under the understanding that cal. hummers were more cordial, maybe they were referring to the allens hummers. But its always interesting to hear how hummers in different areas of the country act. |
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