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If they're clustering in a (largish?) ball they must be swarming honeybees - it would be early in the season in the UK for them to, but I guess you're ahead of us. It doesn't explain the attraction of the water though. Bees do need water, but they shouldn't die in huge numbers trying to get to it. It's possible a swarm got into an inlet or something, I suppose. If a queen was hanging around there for a while she would have left pheromones which would continue to attract passing bees to their doom... It might be worth hosing down any particular area above the water where you see them gathering.
They sound like honeybees.
The workers, at the end of their productive lives become "tank" bees. They collect water and carry it back to the hive where they evaporate it to control the temperature.
They like tobe able to land on a dry surface to drink from.
They are relatively peaceful when engaged in this activity and don't generally trouble people
Thanks for these responses.
Nick:- Actually our weather patterns have been following UK's lately although a few degrees warmer. They've been round the pool for about a month or more. Before I created the puddle they were spread along the "shoreline" in a fairly even narrow band. It's only since yesterday that they are clustered in more of a pile than a ball. There are no "inlets" to the pool as such. I've started pumping the pool out to try and get it dry to stop them killing themselves (assuming they won't just go and do it elsewhere). I've also started hosing down the dead ones towards the lowest part of the pool floor but it's difficult to get it completely dry without getting in there with a mop and bucket etc.
John and David:- I've no idea what type of bees they are. I'll look for any sign of tunnels nearby tomorrow and also try and get some pics. The "tank" bees sounds interesting. Never heard of that before (amongst a lot of other things :-) My late Spanish friend told me that there's a guy who keeps bees in the nearby hills but I don't know exactly where it is, otherwise I'd go and talk to him. Of course we're surround by blossom at the moment and the air is heavy with the scent of orange blossom so I'd assumed in previous years that they were collecting food from the nearby groves and having a drink on the way through. However, initially (6 years ago) there were just a few but they've increased over the years to literally thousands. There's never been any sign of aggression. I can be working right beside the pool and they just wizz past my ears on their way to and fro.
I suggest you contact the local beekeepers' association to advise you--the bees may be a valuable asset to them, and they may be able to come and collect them into a swarm to start a new hive. If you can't find the local association, you could contact the British Beekeepers' Association in the UK.
In view of the global crisis of the demise of the honeybee, possibly related to the massive use of insecticides; and in view of our dependency on food that is pollinated by bees, well done for your concern for their welfare--I hope you find a local beekeeper who can help rescue them.
I very much doubt if there is an association here and trying to find out would be difficult owing to the parlous state of the internet here. Do you really think that the BBA in the UK would be able (or willing) to help ? I realise that there is a global bee problem and I share the concern. We see a lot of nature in the raw here and I care about all of it (except for the bloody rabbits). The behaviour I've seen may be perfectly normal but if not, I would be keen to try to do something about it (if that were feasible).
Since my last post, the puddle dried up and the pool evaporated to almost empty although there were still a few bees lurking. We've had quite a bit of rain the last couple of days so the pool will have refilled to an extent. If there are no puddles tomorrow I'll create an artificial one to see if they return to it and try and get some pics. I won't bother posting pics of the inside of the pool as it's pretty revolting.
Hi I just checked the internet and found this: Ecological Beekeepers Association with Small Black Bees La Palma, canary islands,spain. Email: bioapi@orange.es. Tel: 0034 696352752 ...hope they can help?
Hi Jennifer,
I've just realised that thee is a big honey production facility about 20 miles away from me. They run courses etc. as well as selling honey so they will obviously have some expertise. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I've emailed them (but I'm not holding my breath). I'll post any developments here.