bees in outside spigot - Ask Extension
I turned the outside spigot on for first time & saw the water was brown with things floating. They were bees and yellow foam.. The pitcher I was ...
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bees in outside spigot #864932
Asked April 17, 2024, 7:29 PM EDT
I turned the outside spigot on for first time & saw the water was brown with things floating. They were bees and yellow foam.. The pitcher I was filling also has a yellow waxy residue in it. The spigot is in a tight corner behind a bush. I don't want to hurt the bees but need to be able to use the faucet
Sangamon County Illinois
Expert Response
Yes, outdoor faucets can be places where flying and crawling insects seek shelter from cold weather in the fall. However solitary bees (wasps or hornets) while seeking a warm place on a cool or cold evening, they do not overwinter. In fact, the only solitary bees that overwinter are bumblebees and they hibernate in the ground.
Honeybees are colony insects and require large confined areas where the entire colony forms a ball shape with each bee moving its body to generate heat that keeps the intire colony warm enough to survive the winter. An outdoor water spigot is far too small for a honeybee colony.
It is a common problem for flying and crawling insects to seek shelter in outdoor spigots, or cracks and crevices in the home or foundation.
Flush your faucet and do not worry about killing any bees, they were dead already. The insects in your spigot were looking for a warm place to spend a cold night in hopes of extending their lives a little longer before the cold of winter ended it.
I hope this answers your question.
Honeybees are colony insects and require large confined areas where the entire colony forms a ball shape with each bee moving its body to generate heat that keeps the intire colony warm enough to survive the winter. An outdoor water spigot is far too small for a honeybee colony.
It is a common problem for flying and crawling insects to seek shelter in outdoor spigots, or cracks and crevices in the home or foundation.
Flush your faucet and do not worry about killing any bees, they were dead already. The insects in your spigot were looking for a warm place to spend a cold night in hopes of extending their lives a little longer before the cold of winter ended it.
I hope this answers your question.
