Lathargic, almost dormant bees

[footprint]

Hi,

I'm not a keeper (yet?), but I've always been a close watcher of bees.

The last couple days I've had bees indulging in my blooming artichokes. Tonight, just at twilight, I went out to look, and although some were mobile, a lot of bees were just laying in the blooms. As I checked the yard out, I found bees hanging everywhere around and near the artichokes, not moving. It's now nearly 10 pm, and none have dispersed.

This doesn't seem at all normal. I have found the occasional lethargic bee, but not so many.

I 'rescued' one bee last week from a morning glory flower, and after 5 minutes re-energizing and crawling around on my hand, and cleaning itself, it eventually flew off.

So, I'm curious, do bees overindulge so to speak? or are these guys having a problem?

Jeff

[drew]

Hmmmm.. they will get caught out at night, and just hang out until morning when the temp comes up again...
Not sure if that's what is going on though

artichokes yummmmm.......

[footprint]

Well, all seems OK. By 8:30 am some had revived, by 9:00 am, with direct sun, most were up and about.

I had never seen so many as motionless as they were last night. There must have been 30 bees without counting that seemed to have just parked wherever, dangling from a leaf, or stuck sideways in the artichokes. Kind of like Portland Drivers in snow abandoning their cars randomly.

It wasn't as if it was particularly cold last night either. Made me a little concerned. Must be particularly intoxicating nectar in the 'chokes.

Thanks