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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Mar 21, 2008 7:38:07 GMT
Twice now I have seen a bumble bee disappear in to a tiny hole in my rockery. What shall I do? Are they nesting or roosting (or whatever bees do?!) Jester is a beggar for chasing anything like that but I don't like to interfere with nature. The hole doesn't look big enough to take a bee! Any help (but not from Choppy!) will bee appreciated (geddit? bee??).  |
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Post by shemlock on Mar 21, 2008 8:01:20 GMT
Hi Sharon,
we have had bees nesting, and where the nest is, if you watch, bees will keep coming and hovering about, before entering. There will be more than one bee going in, and there will be a regular pattern of coming and going.
When we had them nesting, luckily, a friend of a friend kept bees, so he came and removed it.
Good luck.
x
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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Mar 21, 2008 9:56:04 GMT
I googled the question and found this: "The queen will locate a suitable place to build her nest. There are over 200 types of bumble bee and they look for a variety of sites. Most common are the leaf litter in a hedge bottom, an old mouse hole, a cool dark place under a large stone or under the wooden floor of a garden shed or other building. Because the bumble bee does not live in a large colony the nest is usually little bigger than half a grapefruit even in the busiest days of high Summer." So I think I will just leave it and watch what happens!  |
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Post by elsalioness on Mar 22, 2008 18:53:05 GMT
hi sharon ive known them use bird boxes,all bumbles are dwindling fast so any help they can get will help,i love to watch them and you have no need to be afraid of them.
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Post by flouncey on Mar 22, 2008 19:37:43 GMT
They might be Mason bees, they tend to nest in tubes and holes. They are solitary bees and go in holes,etc to nest and lay eggs, same goes for leaf cutters. I would leave them to get on with whatever they are doing and if you have leaf cutters if you wait long enough it's funny to see them nipping over next door's fence and coming back with a great big bit of leaf.  |
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Post by BjornTobyStomped on Mar 22, 2008 19:39:44 GMT
Last year we had a Queen bee nest underneath next door neighbours extension.
I didn't have a problem with it but PMT isn't too keen on flying insects and seeing as our back garden resemlbed the M25 on a good day!
I've decided this year to block up that particular site as it could've been nasty if one of the little angels had taken exception to us being in their air space, (bees can occasionally get nasty if they feel provoked).
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Post by carlott on Mar 23, 2008 21:43:52 GMT
As Flouncey says these could be Solitary Bees and so of no use to bee keepers. Also as said we should be encouraging these and from what I was told a year or so ago Masonry Bees are now a protected species along with Bumble Bees (all types). As Bees will not attack unless under threat I really fail to see why any action is necessary unless of course they take up residence within the house.
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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Mar 23, 2008 22:13:03 GMT
I havent seen him for a few days as it has been v cold. When he does surface, I am going to let him do his thang!  |
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Post by faeryboots on Mar 24, 2008 22:29:33 GMT
Tyg three came running in from building her snowman in the back garden today because there was a girt big bee out there!
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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Apr 10, 2008 17:47:53 GMT
I have been away for a few day and always have a browse round the garden when I get back and I noticed 2 bees lurking round the hole, with back legs covered in pollen. Then not long after, this fella was covering up the hole and has now cleared off!  Sorry it is blurred but I was close and it is on my camera phone! Do you think they have laid eggs, left pollen and sealed the hole for gestation?! How beee-utiful! ;D |
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Post by flouncey on Apr 11, 2008 10:29:59 GMT
Yep, the lady bee would have laid her eggs in there, it looks like a mason bee. |
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Post by Sharon Sharealike on Apr 11, 2008 15:03:49 GMT
Free mason? Or will it eat my walls?! |
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Post by Fi on Apr 11, 2008 23:14:01 GMT
Only if one of it's trouser legs is rolled up above the knee.
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