When Do Bees Stop Pollinating ?

[Nyboy]

I have a Lemon tree, it needs to be move inside before temps go below 45. The tree is covered with flowers, I am waiting for very last minute to move inside. I am hoping each day bees are pollinating flowers, I realize I haven't seen any bees past few days, when do they stop looking for pollen?

 

[Carol Dee]

When they are too cold to forage. Exactly what temp that is I do not know.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

there have been some cold mornings when i've gone outside & found a couple bees hanging on to the flowers as if paralyzed from the cold. once the sun or warmth gets to them i notice them moving and flying off. so i imagine once the daytime temps get to the 40's or low 50's they'd stop foraging and start to hole up in their hives.

i think i found your answer. seems honey bees don't hibernate. at about 54*F they will not leave the hive since they can't move their wings below that temp. they will keep shivering inside the hive to keep it warm during the winter to keep the center at a constant 98*f for their queen. when it comes to other bees they tend to die or go into a semi-dormant state. i know it's spring when my male carpenter bees over the porch start to hover waiting for the females to emerge.

 

[Nyboy]

Days are in high 60s so will leave out for a few more days. If you ever tasted a Meyer Lemon you would understand wanting as many as possible. Supermarket here sells them $3.99 each

 

[Smart Red]

Why wait for the bees? You can pollinate your lemon (I'm guessing your spell check failed ) tree with a small artist's brush. Just brush over the stamens and pistils lightly then move on to the next flower until you get back and do the first flower again, without cleaning the brush. Pollen from one flower will transfer to another this way and fertilization will take place.

If you have more than one lemon tree for pollination keep switching back from one tree to another as you move the pollen from flower to flower. This works for flowers blooming through the winter inside as well.

 

[Carol Dee]

there have been some cold mornings when i've gone outside & found a couple bees hanging on to the flowers as if paralyzed from the cold. once the sun or warmth gets to them i notice them moving and flying off. so i imagine once the daytime temps get to the 40's or low 50's they'd stop foraging and start to hole up in their hives.

i think i found your answer. seems honey bees don't hibernate. at about 54*F they will not leave the hive since they can't move their wings below that temp. they will keep shivering inside the hive to keep it warm during the winter to keep the center at a constant 98*f for their queen. when it comes to other bees they tend to die or go into a semi-dormant state. i know it's spring when my male carpenter bees over the porch start to hover waiting for the females to emerge.

That is it, Thanks

 

[Carol Dee]

Why wait for the bees? You can pollinate your lemon (I'm guessing your spell check failed ) tree with a small artist's brush. Just brush over the stamens and pistils lightly then move on to the next flower until you get back and do the first flower again, without cleaning the brush. Pollen from one flower will transfer to another this way and fertilization will take place.

If you have more than one lemon tree for pollination keep switching back from one tree to another as you move the pollen from flower to flower. This works for flowers blooming through the winter inside as well.

Great tip.

 

[Nyboy]

I have never tried that Red. Today its coming inside, got close to cut off tem last night.

 

[bobm]

Our domesticated honey bees start working at 62*. Other wild types much lower temperatures.