Bees nest

stevetiler

stevetiler

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Steve
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So it looks like we've got some bees nesting in an old bird-box in a tree just out side our front door!
Can anything be done about this-last time we had a wasps nest the guy who removed it said if they were bees he couldn't do anything as they are now protected!

Steve
 
If at all possible, I would leave them alone. They are useful insects, If undisturbed they are unlikely to cause a problem and you might get some good photos of them.

Just had a quick look around the Web and forund this site - http://www.wasp-removal.com/wasp-answers8.php

which includes the following -

Bee nests in bird boxes
Bees nesting in a bird box are almost guaranteed to be Bumble bees. The good news is Bumble bees in bird boxes are very easy to re-locate, contact your local pest controller or beekeeper and they will come along (in the evening) and move the box away to a safe location. Most charge for this service.

Dave
 
Tringa said:
Bee nests in bird boxes
Bees nesting in a bird box are almost guaranteed to be Bumble bees. The good news is Bumble bees in bird boxes are very easy to re-locate, contact your local pest controller or beekeeper and they will come along (in the evening) and move the box away to a safe location. Most charge for this service.
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Yes they are indeed bumble bees! Thanks Dave -will look into that
 
Our apple blossom tree got occupied by a large colony of bees, a local beekeeper came one evening when he reckoned all the bees had returned and took them all away to relocate them in a nearby forest. Never seen them again, he charged us £45.00.
 
stevetiler said:
Yes they are indeed bumble bees! Thanks Dave -will look into that
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Speaking as a pest controller, I wouldn't worry about it, the broods tend to be quite small, unlike the honey bees.
And they are very placid, useful too.

I have one in a small gap, just inside the door of the bird mews, she or her off spring comes back ever year,
and never causes problems.
 
Thanks for that! They're not really a problem- just makes us a bit nervous! I love honey so wouldn't want to upset bees if I don't have to!
 
We have a nest under our shed, no problems at all. I feel glad to see them there!
A few years ago we had a nest in the garage and they used to be flying past my head when I got in or out of the car, they did not bother me at all.
 
Most bumblebee colonies only last one season. The young queens are born, grow into adults and mate towards the end of summer, then they leave the nest and hibernate until spring when they emerge to found a new colony. The old queen, workers (females) and males die. Chris mentioned that the bees nest in the same place in his mews each year, but this is probably fortuitous, because it's a good place for a queen to set up home!

By and large, they're not aggressive and I'd just leave them be. Move the bird box in autumn, after the last bees die, if you want to make sure there isn't a colony near your door next year.
 
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