• @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      I rescued one recently by picking it up

      They’re so docile it’s awesome

      And my god did it ever perk up when I plonked it on a flower. It was so ridic cute

  • Drusas
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    122 years ago

    I keep (as much as solitary bees can be “kept”) native mason and leafcutter bees every year. I love when they first emerge from their cocoons. They’re so tiny and adorable. They’re also completely non-aggressive and never mind when I mess with their bee houses (mostly to remove spider webs). My plants love the bees as well.

  • @[email protected]
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    202 years ago

    Honey Bee is not even in danger at the places where it comes from. People brought it to America and now it competes with local pollinators.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      162 years ago

      Yep yep! The main bees in trouble are cute little bumble bees. Since some native plants work best with their native bees, it’s problematic that the sweet little dummies are struggling.

      But we just really love their cousins that produce candy in exchange for houses.

  • @[email protected]
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    252 years ago

    Apparently there are some wasps that are pollinators and also not assholes, but I don’t bother to Google which is which before murdering them. If they want to live they shouldn’t be asshole shaped.

    • ColorcodedResistor
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      22 years ago

      if it looks like an asshole and buzzes like one, i don’t think you’d find many who would disagree with you in the moment of life or wasp death. there can be only one winner in survival. it has to be you.

    • Drusas
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      42 years ago

      Paper wasps are generally good pollinators and not assholes, but they have yellow striping to make them look scary.

      Yellow jackets are assholes, unusually aggressive and territorial and this becomes a problem because they also tend to love human food and beverage. In my region, I would also say fuck the bald-faced hornet, which is naturally related to the yellow jacket and is similarly aggressive. Fortunately less common (I haven’t been stung by one, but apparently it’s worse than it is with a yellow jacket).

      Boll’s Potter wasps (if I’m remembering their name correctly) are also common where I am and they are pretty chill and just go about pollinating. I’m sure there are a bunch of others that I haven’t yet learned to identify.

      tl;dr: Yellow jackets and their relatives are assholes. The rest are mostly okay.

      • RQG
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        22 years ago

        We got a small hornet nest somewhat nearby. They tend to come over and murder all the asshole wasps which is nice. The hornets are reddish orange, no idea what kind they are but I like them. Otherwise they are super chill and avoid humans.

      • @[email protected]
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        32 years ago

        In a world with no rules, sure. Play rust for 30 minutes and you’ll learn to shoot first and ask questions never.

  • Lowlee Kun
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    212 years ago

    In this thread: Animals only deserve to live if they have a direct use case to us humans. People here are not sure whats alle the fuss about mass extinction. Carry on beloved free market capitalism.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      22 years ago

      I mean they pollinate too and are important to keep some pests in check. So they are important to the ecosystem.

      They are also tiny demons and give me a sense of panic no other creature can because there is just so many of them and they are so small and full of hate.

      It is a bummer that these are not mutually exclusive.

  • Franzia
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    172 years ago

    If you hate wasps its because you’re a coward and deserve to be stung anyway

    • @[email protected]
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      292 years ago

      I don’t hate wasps, but I wish they’d realize the apple I’m eating comes from the tree right behind me, that has a thousand more for them to munch on

      • @[email protected]OP
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        142 years ago

        Okay, but like, clearly that is their apple???

        I mean so are all the others.

        And you are their meat if they get too hungry.

        They can be important pollinators while also being tiny demons.

        • @[email protected]
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          72 years ago

          I’m all for symbiotic relationships, but that should also mean I get to eat an apple in peace. We literally have four apple trees in our backyard, plenty for everybody, and I let them eat whatever they want to their hearts desire.

          I think they’re just nearsighted and not very smart

  • @[email protected]
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    402 years ago

    We have a bee hotel and it’s so damn cute seeing these little solitary bees filling up the holes.

    We probably have 20-30 nests.

    • @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      I have a little butterfly home, but it got populated by yellow jackets and now I don’t know what to do.

      • Drusas
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        22 years ago

        Huh. I thought yellow jackets nest underground.

    • ForestOrca
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      102 years ago

      Yay! Me too! I had so many different species visit my yard this year. Like 3 different species of big ‘bumble bees’. And so many of the other kind. I like the iridescent green one!! :-D

    • @[email protected]
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      32 years ago

      OPs post reminded me to get a new one built!

      Whereabouts do you live and what sizes of holes are you drilling?

      • @[email protected]
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        92 years ago

        If you have a drill, they’re stupid easy to make. Read about what size holes the bees in your area like. And leave a smooth edge on the entry! They won’t use it if they sense a risk to their wings.

        Might as well roll your own, not like you can reuse them after they nest. Mites and such are an issue.

        • Drusas
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          72 years ago

          You can reuse them, but you have to carefully clean the nesting holes. I have professionally made bee houses that I use. The wooden blocks that hold the nesting holes can be removed, opened, and sanitized. This also allows you to harvest cocoons to keep safe from predators/weather for the next year.

    • @[email protected]
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      72 years ago

      Not many realize this, but sticking with the non-bee pollination theme you have things like beetles, butterflies, moths, some species of flies, ants, wasps… the list goes on.

      Non-inscect options include some speciea of bats and birds.

      That’s not even getting into the tons of other useful things insects do.

      • @[email protected]
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        32 years ago

        You do know that this world is basically populated primarily by insects right? They’re arguably the most important type of animal on earth

  • @[email protected]
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    42 years ago

    Can’t get on board with this. fuck non honey bees.

    Wasp and hornet populations are bigger than ever. They are pests that don’t need our support. We are doing them a huge favor by raising the earth’s temperature. They love this. In my area wasps are easily more noticeable over the past few years as summers have gotten hotter and hotter. I’ve never had so many issues with carpenter bees either.

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years ago

        Fair enough. A lot of people still refer to wasps / hornets as “bees” but this is not scientifically correct. Carpenter bees can go to hell. Nothing against the bumble, but if I’m going to get behind saving something that can sting me or kids and potentially induce lethal allergic reactions, it’s going to be the one that at least makes a decent cereal topping.

        • @[email protected]
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          52 years ago

          It’s not about you and your family’s comfort. These insects are essential to the environment as a whole. You want a livable planet for your children, you want to save even the stingy bois. That being said, fuck wasps.

    • @[email protected]
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      42 years ago

      Actually they really don’t love the rising temperature at all, because that combined with human activity directly is killing a lot of their food sources, which is why many are endangered. Wasps are important pollinators as well as bees, so if they go it will make life even more difficult for a lot of different flowers. Also, how often are you actually stung by wasps or hornets? Do they actively hunt you down and attack you? I’ve spent many calm evenings sitting and watching wasps fly around various flowers and bushes right next to me and never been bothered by them.

      Thinking we just need to save honey bees is kind of like thinking we need to save cows from extinction, they’re domesticated.

        • @[email protected]
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          22 years ago

          Bro I’ve been stung exactly twice (both at the same time, stepped on a yellow jacket nest) my whole life, am I just lucky?

          • @[email protected]
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            12 years ago

            I’ve only been stung stepping on a nest of ground bees.

            Most wasps and daubers around me are pretty chill. But we got a nest of bald faced hornets a few years ago, and damn they were aggressive.

            I left the nest alone, and none of us got stung, but def got chased inside a couple of times. They attacked the window for 20 minutes afterward, lol.

            2/10 would still leave them alone again.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      Carpenter bees are easy. If they’re eating your house, just get a trap. Aside from a rare wasp, they’re the only things that get in those.

      Looks like this:

      https://www.bonanza.com/listings/Kentucky-red-Cedar-Carpenter-Bee-Trap/1482301003?goog_pla=1&gpid=&keyword=&goog_pla=1&pos=&ad_type=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote9YNQRqdtnYh8MpaZBskM6Yag3GctqOIScCZQJTckdi29qZVsSnBTgaAoDdEALw_wcB

      Also, sure the carpenter bees aren’t actually bumblebees? I can’t tell 'em apart in flight.

  • ComradeSharkfucker
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    2 years ago

    My parents have a hive of wood bees in the pergola my dad made. They pollinate our lime tree and I love them