People warned sugar trick to 'revive' bees can have 'devastating' consequences
It's World Bee Day and as such, many people might be thinking of leaving some sugar water out in their garden or on a windowsill for any tired bees to help them.
However, if this is something you were considering, then we urge you to think again.
This is because experts have explained the gesture of kindness for the winged insects can actually do more harm than good for a bee hive.
Previously a Facebook post encouraging people to do the sugar water trick went viral online, as many falsely believed it had come from Sir David Attenborough.
The post, which has since been deleted, was outed as fake and the BBC and RSPB stepped in to stop the spread of misinformation.
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Leaving sugar water out may attract lots of insects (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The advice was unwittingly shared by millions before it was debunked.
It read: "In the last five years the bee population has dropped by 1/3.
"If bees were to disappear from the face of the earth, humans would have just four years left to live.
"This time of year bees can often look like they are dying or dead, however, they're far from it. Bees can become tired and they simply don't have enough energy to return to the hive which can often result in being swept away.
"If you find a tired bee in your home, a simple solution of sugar and water will help revive an exhausted bee. Simply mix two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, and place on a spoon for the bee to reach. You can also help by sharing this post to raise awareness."
The BBC confirmed the post was not actually shared by Sir David Attenborough and that it could even cause harm to the already-waning bee population.
To make matters worse, those who put out the sugar solution could also find themselves with thousands of bees descending on their home.
Bees need to have the right food source in order to make honey (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)According to experts, any bees that discover the sugar water are likely to go back to the hive and bring back more bees to the source of easy food.
And the 'quick-fix' could actually prove devastating for them.
While a teaspoon of sugar can help to revive a collapsed bee as it provides a jolt of energy, leaving sugar out for other bees to feed on is comparable to giving those who aren't struggling junk food, as it has no nutritional value for them.
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The bees will take this food back to the hive to store as honey - instead of foraging for nectar from flowers.
It also won't feed growing larvae.
Using this instead of nectar to make honey could cause problems for beekeepers down the line, as they would be extracting sugar syrup and selling it as honey.
They could then be prosecuted for selling it as honey, as it wouldn't be proper honey.
So to save more bees and make a big difference, what you really need to do instead of leaving out sugar water is to plant flowers.
A spokesperson for the RSPB added: "It's a nice thing to do and it makes people feel good about themselves, but it's only a short-term solution for a bee. You're giving it a sugar buzz, but what they really need is nectar.
"What people can do to help is plant flowers that flower all year round.
"We would not advise leaving out sugar and water as bees will go to this rather than a flower because it is easier and then flowers are not being pollinated."
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