Moved a Bee's Nest
Discussion
Not knowingly, Mrs Smiler moved an old nest box that had fallen down during the winter.
It was left on the side on a planter right outside the back door.
I've stuck it around the corner in a similar location (from an orientation & sun perspective).
About a dozen are buzzing around where the box was & there's little activity at the new location.
I don't think it's a hive, possibly just a winter bolt hole.
The are bumble bees of some kind.
It was left on the side on a planter right outside the back door.
I've stuck it around the corner in a similar location (from an orientation & sun perspective).
About a dozen are buzzing around where the box was & there's little activity at the new location.
I don't think it's a hive, possibly just a winter bolt hole.
The are bumble bees of some kind.
Bought my dad one of these recently, might be worth getting one in case the bees would like to hang around.
Wildlife World Bumble Bee Nester
http://amazon.co.uk/dp/B000R46B4S
I gather they are declining in numbers at the moment which is a shame.
Wildlife World Bumble Bee Nester
http://amazon.co.uk/dp/B000R46B4S
I gather they are declining in numbers at the moment which is a shame.
They are almost certainly Bombus hypnorum - workers very rarely sting and the ones you see buzzing around the front are males waiting for new queens to emerge and the males can't sting.
What I'd do is put the box back for now, then wait till dark - they will all be inside then. Stuff the hole with foam sponge or paper, then move it to the preferred location. In the morning pile some twigs loosely in front of the hole to slow them as they come out, then remove the stuffing. They will reorient in he new location.
By late autumn they will all be gone.
What I'd do is put the box back for now, then wait till dark - they will all be inside then. Stuff the hole with foam sponge or paper, then move it to the preferred location. In the morning pile some twigs loosely in front of the hole to slow them as they come out, then remove the stuffing. They will reorient in he new location.
By late autumn they will all be gone.
Nimby said:
They are almost certainly Bombus hypnorum - workers very rarely sting and the ones you see buzzing around the front are males waiting for new queens to emerge and the males can't sting.
What I'd do is put the box back for now, then wait till dark - they will all be inside then. Stuff the hole with foam sponge or paper, then move it to the preferred location. In the morning pile some twigs loosely in front of the hole to slow them as they come out, then remove the stuffing. They will reorient in he new location.
By late autumn they will all be gone.
Spot on.What I'd do is put the box back for now, then wait till dark - they will all be inside then. Stuff the hole with foam sponge or paper, then move it to the preferred location. In the morning pile some twigs loosely in front of the hole to slow them as they come out, then remove the stuffing. They will reorient in he new location.
By late autumn they will all be gone.
A bit late for putting the box back, I spent the following hour trapping the lost ones using a cake mesh & with the use of a pint glass, depositing them back in the box.
Only one or two stragglers now.
One I noticed had pollen sacs on its hind legs.
Do you keep bees?
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