Science Question: Drinking Bees?

[Dannyalcatraz]

I know that some land creatures almost never drink water, getting all of their required refreshment from the food they eat. Many such creatures are arthropods. Up until recently, I'd considered bees to be in that category.

This week, I've noticed a phenomenon I've never witnessed- bees drinking from my water fountain. At least, that is what it looks like they're doing.

The fountain in question isn't chlorinated- its just a small flow of water that runs down a rock and into a small retaining pool (less than 3' across). Even if they used mud for nest building like wasps, there isn't mud for them to use. All there is is water and some algae. And yet I see them hitting that fountain daily and in groups of up to 10 at a time.

Are the bees in my yard actually thirsty, or is something else going on?

(I'm in the Dallas, TX area, and its been very hot & dry lately, if that matters.)

 

[Pbartender]

I know that some land creatures almost never drink water, getting all of their required refreshment from the food they eat. Many such creatures are arthropods. Up until recently, I'd considered bees to be in that category.

This week, I've noticed a phenomenon I've never witnessed- bees drinking from my water fountain. At least, that is what it looks like they're doing.

The fountain in question isn't chlorinated- its just a small flow of water that runs down a rock and into a small retaining pool (less than 3' across). Even if they used mud for nest building like wasps, there isn't mud for them to use. All there is is water and some algae. And yet I see them hitting that fountain daily and in groups of up to 10 at a time.

Are the bees in my yard actually thirsty, or is something else going on?

(I'm in the Dallas, TX area, and its been very hot & dry lately, if that matters.)

You might find this interesting, then...

A 1940 study on how a honeybee chooses its water source and why.

The bee may not be drinking the water, but could be taking it back to the hive for purposes of cooling the hive through evaporation, or to dilute nectar and honey to feed to larvae.

 

[Umbran]

Danny accidentally ignored his own thread. I have forked and merged threads, in the hope that he can see the resulting thread.

 

[Umbran]

Bees do drink water - they need it less when there's plant nectar around. Evaporating water is used to cool hives, and if I recall correctly, they also need extra water to make wax.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Ahhhh!

Right- I had forgotten that bees need water for reasons other than consumption, such as evaporative cooling.