What do insects do when it rains?

@Fleura (34927)
United Kingdom
September 14, 2021 5:05am CST
Have you ever noticed that there are few insects flying when it’s raining? Obviously if you are a small fly and you are hit by a falling raindrop that’s going to have a big impact - literally! But where do they all go? While in a garden a few days ago in a heavy shower I spotted these bees, sheltering in the lee of a flower spike on a shrub - I think it’s a Hebe. Presumably they had been caught out by the downpour while out at work, and didn’t have time to get home. Luckily the flowers were big enough to keep the rain off. All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2021.
7 people like this
7 responses
simplyme
@m_audrey6788 (58468)
• Germany
14 Sep 21
I think you are right. Nice photo
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
14 Sep 21
Insects caught out when it rains slide under leaves or land on the ground until it's safe for them to resume flying. (I was reading about that in the local Missouri Conservationist magazine I get from the Conservation Department here. It's a very interesting magazine.) Very nice photo.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
14 Sep 21
Interesting reading obviously!
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
15 Sep 21
@Fleura If you want to look at the magazines the Conservation Department puts out, it is online, too... I get it free since I live in Missouri but I'm not sure if they charge for it online or not. I'm always learning something new from it.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
15 Sep 21
@DaddyEvil It does sound interesting, I'll try and remember to have a look.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
22 Sep 21
The same question could be asked about birds. The answer could possibly be they are all rain proof
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
22 Sep 21
Maybe they're small enough to fit between the raindrops!
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Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
22 Sep 21
@Fleura Good thinking
1 person likes this
prashu
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
14 Sep 21
They hide under the branches and leaves.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
14 Sep 21
Great shot of the bees! Yes, I have noticed, and if it’s very breezy, I don’t notice any bugs at all. I assume they seek shelter in flora.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
14 Sep 21
I guess there must be thousands of them tucked away. I wonder how long they can survive if the weather is too inclement for them to go out foraging?
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
14 Sep 21
@Fleura Lots to wonder about. It seems to me that they are pretty resilient creatures.
Jessica
@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
14 Sep 21
cool photo. I would think they make shelters out of leaves.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
14 Sep 21
You captured so well those two bumble bees on the flower, congratulations. Not every insect hide in the light rain, but most of them do. Under big leaves, in the grass, under the branch of a tree. I think they have many hiding places.
1 person likes this