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NE Wisconsin

Will bumble bees kill or run off honey bees?

I have 40 sunflowers. A few opened about 3 weeks ago, they have slowly popped a few at a time since, and are pretty much all open or opening by now.

On the first few heads to open there were 6-10 honey bees all the time. They were awesome to watch them turn completely yellow attaching pollen to their bodies.

After 4-5 days a few bumble bees showed up. They slowly increased and the honey bees disappeared. Now there will be 6-8 bumble bees per plant and I haven't seen a honey bee in my entire patch in a week or so.

8/8/2018 2:46:15 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

https://www.bee-safe.eu/article/competition-honey-bees-bumblebees/

Your answer will be found here.

8/8/2018 2:55:22 PM

Grittyville, WA

They wont kill each other. Generally the foraging range of the honeybees is farther I think so they will go to the best sources within two miles and avoid shorter-ranged competition. I think thats how it works.

8/8/2018 3:24:59 PM

NE Wisconsin

Thanks for the article Wizzy, very informative.

8/8/2018 4:26:19 PM