Emma Harrison

🇬🇧camper🚐, animal lover, mum to dog, plants and human 👩‍👦🐶🪴. Knitter and crocheter🧶. F1 fan 🏎. Gin lover🍹🇺🇦🌻

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@UndisScot Newton Stewart Dashwood square

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@Matt_Pinner @ChrisGPackham @DrAmirKhanGP @wave105radio @VisitBritain @UKWX_ @michaelastracha @ZubyMusic @Bournemouthecho 2

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

Ok #planttwitter I have a bush in my garden absolutely covered in these tiny white bugs. Parts of the bush have died. Any ideas and what do I do?#gardening #GardeningTwitter

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

I left this thread up here a few hours ago and went out to work in the meadows.
Returned to find your incredible response and engagement yet again!
This moves me.
Thank you from the #bees and me!🙏🏼🐝
A little bit of bright in oft dark times.
#nature #connection #engagement

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…specific height preferences at which they patrol spreading their queen attracting scent. Some work their magic in the tree tops while others are more down to earth! Despite mating being their raison d’être the sad fact is that very few males (estimates put it at less…
10/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…patrolling for prospective mates and foraging. They then spend their lonely nights sleeping on or in flowers - the temperature in some flowers at the base near the nectar source can be up to 10ºC above outside temperatures.

Depending on the species male bumblebees have…
9/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…to avoid inbreeding (take note some humans 😂).
This is where the ‘flower sleeping’ starts. Having no homes these males will now spend their days actively seeking a new queen to mate with and food to sustain themselves. They will travel up to 17 kilometres in a single day…8/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…for themselves.
Once mature they leave the nest. Unlike workers and queens on leaving the nest they don’t perform learning flights to memorise its location but fly directly away never looking back and never to return. They will disperse far from the nest - up to 6 miles -
7/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…mother the queen. When developing as larvae they require more food and for a longer time period than female worker larvae. Ironically later in their short lives males will never forage for pollen and nectar to contribute to the nest but concentrate on foraging for nectar…
6/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…and their apparent penchant for overnighting in flowers.

Male #bumblebees are produced by the queen fairly late in the nest cycle - mid to late summer. Males develop from unfertilised eggs - they have no father - and 100% of their genes will be in common with their…
5/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

…foraging in inclement weather or too late & losing light, low energy & natural end of life. But at this time of year - mid to late summer - you may notice a big increase in ‘flower sleepers’ and most of these will likely be males. So let’s take a look at male #bumblebees..
4/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

They spend their short lives seeking sugar and a mate.
Most don’t get to mate.
Those that do never meet their offspring.
No male has a son.
Oh and they can’t sting!

#Bumblebees sometimes sleep/overnight on flowers. And for a number of reasons including getting caught out…
3/16

[The Bee Guy @the_beeguy]

Mornin’ folks.

We’ve had a lot of people enquiring about and commenting on #bumblebees asleep on #flowers, especially at this time of year, so here’s a quick (long)🙄 thread explaining what’s going on.

Please retweet so more are more informed.
Thanks good people.
#bees
1/16

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@SarahkateMurph3 We picked wild raspberries in Newton Stewart, got 3 lovely jars of home made delicious jam, had great fun.

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@HelenAshby72 Totaly agree

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@Merseytravel Aigburth

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@Merseytravel Wavertree

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@LumpyandFriends What do you feed the foxes? I have one who has been stealing my milk and eggs

[Emma Harrison @EmmaCh494lj]

@LumpyandFriends I so wish i could do that xx

[NHS Million @NHSMillion]

We need a general election now.

Please RT if you agree.