Everyone needs water. Without it we don't last so long. With quite the drought going on in my area I noticed how bees were quick to lick up every drop of water that I spilled in the yard.
They'd even land on the wet dirt after I watered the garden. So I decided to set out some water for them.
The biggest problem for bees and water is drowning.
I put two small Tupperware containers full of water out, high enough up that raccoons can't mess them up. I laid many pieces of grass across the surface to give the bees a landing spot.
So far I haven't seen any drowned bees.
I also put my Styrofoam hive feeder on the robbing table, but filled with water. But so far I haven't seen bees making use of it.
An instructor from my bee course advised that the best way to build a water feeder for bees is to create a beach. He suggested a plastic child's pool be put in a slanted position. Then pour sand in it and finally water.
I thought I'd try that next.
