5 March 2010 - 3.25 oz. vs 12 oz. full vs 12 oz. half

Location: Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, MD
Conditions:  Sunny, 80's
Start: 10:00 a.m. April 5
End: 4:30 p.m. April5
Habitat: Field with scattered trees, no apparent flowers.
Bees: Andrena, Osmia, Lasioglossum, Ceratina
Experiment: 3.25 ounce white solo cups  were alternated with a completely filled 12 ounce white party store cup and a half-filled white 12 ounce party store cup.  Bowls were spaced 5 m apart and filled with soapy water (unscented laundry detergent and tap water). 
Problem:  I only sprinkled a little laundry detergent into the several gallons of water for the experiment...apparently this was not sufficient, as I saw bees land on the surface tension and fly or crawl out.   I will go back to a more concentrated solution.

Despite low catch there was no strong indication of a bowl effect.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Average
3.24 Oz. Full	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.10
12 Oz. Full	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	n	0	0.22
12 Oz. Half	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0.30