Posted on 04/06/2015 9:00:54 PM PDT by djf
Now I have (and have had it for a while) a birdhouse right next to my back door.
Early in the spring, I checked it -but nothing seemed to be happening. There was an old nest inside from last year when I had the privilege of watching a pair of chickadees raise there young one.
About two or three weeks ago, I stepped outside about 2 AM just to see the weather, etc., and I heard a sound - it was like a buzzing. I realized it was coming from the birdhouse, and thought it might be wasps which I have a bit of a problem with. I decided to leave it till the morning and then terminate them.
The next morning I went out there and discovered it wasn't wasps - it was BUMBLEBEES!
Now I think that that is kinda kool, so I decided I wouldn't kill em.
Now, during the day when I'm outside, you frequently see them buzzing around and flying into and out of their nest. And it seems odd, but at night (our nights are still pretty chilly - 35F or so), you can go out there and they seem to just buzz - I imagine they are firing their engines to generate heat!
I am unsure if this is a permanent nest for them or exactly what's what - if anyone out there has more knowledge/experience with bumblebees, plese let me know! TIA!
Carpenter bees? Are they nesting in holes in wood, maybe a shed?
My understanding of bumblebees is that their ‘nests’ last a year and then move own. Should be an interesting experience for you. unlike the hornets I had a year ago they don’t tend to be aggressive.
-35? In Wash.? In April?
or did you mean honeybees? in which case they may be around a while... I have a tree with a nest going on three years despite record cold snaps.
Nope. These are absolutely bumblebees - I mean the yellow and black, hairy kind of bee.
I have seen them come out of the ground, and always assumed that was where they nest.
Interesting that in this case their nest is directly below a bunch of wooden blocks that my mason bees are in. (and starting to emerge)
Exactly. They are, for the most part, an unaggressive bee.
I will watch it and let you know!
I had a bumble bee nest by my back door in a gap between the concrete patio and chimney. One thing they REALLY didn’t like was our turning the lights on outside before dawn (which would shine into the nest). They would swarm the lights and bang against the backdoor as if screaming for us to shut ‘em off !
No, I meant 35F. Middle of a clear night, it’s possible!
Everything you were afraid to ask about bumblebees-n-nests.
http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/bee-nest-removal-bumblebee.html
If you have a flower garden you will have a very good year.
Put a police of tobacco on any bee sting you get, takes the sting right out of it. Works for a few wasps.
Liquid Nitrogen would get the job done....
Liquid Nitrogen would get the job done....
Thanks for that site. It’s interesting that they actually do have queens, I thought they were pretty much solitary bees.
Police = poultice
TTIWWP.
As soon as those suckers come after you you wont think it is cute having them around. Ive been chased by a bunch of them.
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