How far do bees travel?

I've lived on my land since March 2010 and this year I finally saw good old fashioned bees. The poppies started blooming profusely in July and one day I saw a few bees enjoying them. Within 3 days bees were everywhere! I was thrilled

I have newly sprouted buckwheat for them, that will hopefully provide for several more months. I also planted lemon mint and am still waiting for those to sprout. I hope to keep enough blooms around to make the bees want to visit regularly.

I'm curious where they come from though. Do they travel far for nectar/pollen sources? If I keep them happy will they nest nearby?

Our nearest neighbor is it least a quarter mile away and this is a desert scrub area other than the slow progresses I've made.

In general a few miles from the hive. Chances are someones keeping bees or there is a wild hive. I bet someones keeping bees.

Thanks Jordan. There are small neighborhoods a couple of miles away so maybe they live in there. Hopefully they'll make my place a regular stop

I believe four miles from the hive is common, and six miles isn't out of the question if the forage is sparse closer to home.

Wow it never occurred to me that they might travel so far. Guess I was kind of hoping a wild hive had taken up residence nearby

Kathy Burns-Millyard wrote:Wow it never occurred to me that they might travel so far. Guess I was kind of hoping a wild hive had taken up residence nearby

doesn't mean there isn't a colony near by. it does mean that you could have luck attracting a swarm if you put up one or more bait hives.

My brother in law keeps bees and is learning me how to. He told me that bees fly up to 3 kilometres from their hive.

However because of the pollution and insecticides used by farmers here in Europe where I live, they get disorientated and go only up to 1.5 km. Most of the times they can't find their nest back.... It's a big problem here, the bees are ex-stinting...

I have read two miles is common and three miles is rare. I'll have to cinch up a saddle on one of them honeys and find out!

Rick Larson wrote:I have read two miles is common and three miles is rare. I'll have to cinch up a saddle on one of them honeys and find out!

are you familiar with the practice of beelining? no need for a saddle; a bit of thread and some stamina will do.

Don't know how far, I haven't seen a honey bee in 2 or more years.

james beam

tel jetson wrote:

Rick Larson wrote:I have read two miles is common and three miles is rare. I'll have to cinch up a saddle on one of them honeys and find out!

are you familiar with the practice of beelining? no need for a saddle; a bit of thread and some stamina will do.

I don't know about that. I'm fat and getting pretty darn old.. However, I can envision this!