Do you have bumblebees?

@dragon54u (31633)
United States
May 24, 2008 12:32pm CST
I was thrilled to see them this spring, I haven't seen them for nearly 3 decades and was looking forward to seeing them this first spring back in Ohio. My dog likes to chase them, I hope she doesn't catch any, ouch! I've never been stung by one, bet it would hurt. So do you have any? I wonder how they got their name?
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6 responses
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
26 May 08
No, but I would love to plant some of the flowers that attract them. I remember as a child seeing them around all the flowers. Thats a sight of beauty that I had forgotten about in life, thank you for causing me to remember it.
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
26 May 08
I'm so glad I could remind you of happy things! I remember bumblebees buzzing around my Grandma's hollyhocks and her teaching me about them as we picked the flowers and made them into dolls. I haven't thought about that for a couple of years, so thank YOU for reminding me of that wonderful time!
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@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
28 May 08
Well, I guess we both had a little trip down memory lane.
@GreenMoo (11833)
25 May 08
I do love bumble bees, they are so big and sort of fluffy looking. They look so harmless, and are a wonderful herald to summer. I don't see many around here. I don't know whether it's because there aren't any about, or whether they are scared off by my neighbour's honey bees of which there are thousands.
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
25 May 08
I didn't know honeybees and bumblebees didn't get along. I learn something new here everyday!
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@GreenMoo (11833)
25 May 08
Well I don't know that they don't either, it's just a guess! So don't go telling everyone in case I'm wrong lol
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@peavey (16936)
• United States
24 May 08
Yes, we have bumblebees here in Colorado, but there doesn't seem to be as many as there used to. I love to watch them, too.
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
24 May 08
I hope you're nowhere near the tornados I heard about, I didn't think Colorado got weather like that! I remember lots of bumblebees when I was a child and there doesn't seem to be as many now.
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@peavey (16936)
• United States
24 May 08
I live within a few miles of where the biggest tornado touched down. This part of Colorado doesn't normally have storms like that, but they do south of us. I wonder if bumblebees are susceptible to the disease that's attacking honey bees? Or if it's just the pesticides that's killing them.
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@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
25 May 08
We don't have Bumblebees here in Australia (at least, not on the mainland, although they've become established in Tasmania). We do have introduced Honey Bee species, which are quite common, as well as native honey bees (which have the appearance of large shiny black flies). I read that Bumblebees don't die if they sting you - which I suppose is a good thing for the Bumblebee. Bad if they decide they don't particularly like you. I must say they do look cute, from the pictures I've seen. Big furry bee-things, very big for a bee, IMO. But they're actually outlawed here because they might upset the local ecology. So we don't get to see them - just regular honey bees.
@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
26 May 08
Hi again, I've heard a little about Kudzu. Quite an amazing plant - grows up to 300 mm a day (or even more), which is about 1 mm every 5 minutes, or 1 inch every 2 hours. It might eventually prove to be a blessing in disguise for some people, because it's not only prolific, it's also edible. I've heard that we actually have a bit of a problem with Kudzu up north here in Australia, too. But again, if the stuff is edible, surely that can be exploited?
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
25 May 08
Wow, I didn't think there was anyplace that bumblebees were absent in! But I'm glad the Aussies are looking out for their ecology. Our southern states are overrun by kudzu, a lovely non-native plant that destroys electrical lines, railroad tracks and native plants because it grows so fast you can almost see it spread. Somebody brought it from overseas!
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@sameroad (3178)
• United States
24 May 08
I think we do but i'm not really sure... I know we have bees! lol I don't like them.. always worried i'm gonna get stung. but yesterday there was millions of dragonflies at least i think they were dragonflies but there were seriously so many that i didn't even go for my walk. I couldn't! they kept almost hitting me.. made me feel like that movie of the "attack of killer bees" It was crazy.
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@sameroad (3178)
• United States
25 May 08
I have no idea but it was freaky I haven't ever seen anything like it before.. maybe its the weather? and I've been stung a few times. It hurts! I don't give them a chance to land on me because i'll run from them lol
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
24 May 08
I love dragonflies but that sounds pretty scary! Wonder what's bringing so many of them out? Bees don't sting me, I don't know why. They'll light on me, just for a rest I suppose, but I never get stung.
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@jrsmith (292)
• United States
26 May 08
Southeast Georgia has bumble bees. This is the big bees that is a sign of spring so the older generation says. Beeware beecause they will sting you bad.
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
26 May 08
LOL! My dog Cookie has been chasing the bumblebees. Yesterday, she caught one and was shaking her head for awhile. No swelling or anything but I think it stung her. Cos she hasn't chased any since then!!