Bees

[greendiff]

At what point should i do something about this? Or just leave it till they die off in the autumn?

Its not in the way, so im happy to leave them be, but will they be back again next year if i do?

[DKL]

If they're bees and you don't want them then your local beekeeper will usually collect a swarm. Otherwise if they aren't causing an issue just leave them bee. They won't come back next year as the queen will leave but you may get a different lot or maybe wasps.

[Hereward]

Probably Tree Bees. Ideally live and let live if you can

https://www.dorsetcountrylife.co.uk/post/the-bird-...

[AndyTR]

It's a bumblebee nest, so in the autumn the colony will die off and the queen will leave to hibernate. They're unlikely to return to the same nest, but you could clean it all out and see if it gets repopulated in the future. Bumblebees are awesome!

[greendiff]

My thinking was leave them alone, as theyre out the way. i bought the place at the end of last year, and the survey mentioned a bee infestation in the box, but was gone when i moved in. i assumed it was the same queen/colony coming back from hibernation, but it appears it could be a different colony this year?

Edited by greendiff on Saturday 23 May 14:09

[DKL]

Didn't spot they were bumblebees. A beekeeper won't want them. I'd just leave them to themselves and if you don't want more next year take the box down over winter.

[redstar1]

Have some under my lawn near a fence. Just left a bit uncut near their entrance hole. Could sit and watch them come and go all day.

[Landlubber]

They'll clear off themselves your clear.

[rossub]

Does it matter if it gets re-occupied by Bees next year?

Giving them a safe home is great and they’re not going to cause any bother.

We had a Tree Bumble Bee nest in behind a Facia a few years back - was brilliant seeing them come and go.

[The Gauge]

Wonderful to have bees nesting in your garden. I put bee nest boxes out for them.

Tree bees - the bees you see hanging around outside the box are males waiting for the virgin female queens to emerge. Bit like 5am on a Sunday morning outside a typical nightclub, apart from the virgins bit!

Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 23 May 17:41

[Landlubber]

rossub said:

Does it matter if it gets re-occupied by Bees next year?

Giving them a safe home is great and they re not going to cause any bother.

We had a Tree Bumble Bee nest in behind a Facia a few years back - was brilliant seeing them come and go.

Never have so far.

[bobtail4x4]

we have a few hives at the end of our drive, bloke in village owns/looks after them,
he was up this aft sorting something, I left him to it,

this evening I was that end of the drive and noticed a new hive, the bees were not at all happy to have been moved,

got stung half a doz times on the head/scalp,

thinking about it its the first time ever I have been stung, a bit like a bad nettle sting,

[The Gauge]

I have these next boxes for solitary bees down the bottom of my garden, usually occupied but mason bees and leaf cutters.....

[L1OFF]

One of my neighbours keeps bees, the lavender bushes lining my drive will be covered in them in a few weeks when they flower, magnificent sight. I've taught my grandkids not to be scared of them.

[Sixpackpert]

Came home to this on Friday,



All of a sudden they swarmed around the garden, hundreds of them! Finally they moved on like a big black cloud!

[Rampant Golf]

I came across this yesterday and I believe its a mason bee hive? It is sandwiched in a folded up patio parasol which we used for the first time this year this weekend. So cool to see.

[Murph7355]

Sixpackpert said:

Came home to this on Friday,



All of a sudden they swarmed around the garden, hundreds of them! Finally they moved on like a big black cloud!

They look more like wasps?

[Sixpackpert]

Murph7355 said:

Sixpackpert said:

Came home to this on Friday,



All of a sudden they swarmed around the garden, hundreds of them! Finally they moved on like a big black cloud!

They look more like wasps?

I thought that initially but others have said bees so I’ll stick with buzzing things.

At least they haven’t returned!

[Bill]

Definitely honey bees, wasps don't swarm.

[NDA]

Sixpackpert said:

All of a sudden they swarmed around the garden, hundreds of them! Finally they moved on like a big black cloud!

A big swarm of bees is actually a tiny bit scary/other-worldly. Quite a sound too. I've seen it up close a couple of times and I found it unsettling - even though it was perfectly safe.