UKC

Just discovered tonight that I have a bumble bee nest in my greenhouse. There have been quite a few bees coming and going in the greenhouse for the last couple of weeks but I thought it was just the tomatoes etc that were attracting them in, but no they have a nest in my fleece insulation lying under a bench.
I wonder what species I've got! I will need to try and see them up close and try and identify them.
Always had lots of bees and wasps in the garden but never a bees nest.
I am assuming that if I leave them in peace they will just ignore me, and will not need any help to survive from me (except leaving the door/windows open)?

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Send me a picture and I'll have a go at the species.

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

They are fairly chilled, have 3 bumble bee nests in the garden and the kids often run over them without any problems. Very envious with having one in the greenhouse, I have to leave my greenhouse door open to let them in.

In reply to Andy Nisbet:
Thanks. I'll see if I can get a reasonable photo soon.
From the brief sight I got tonight they seem to be a medium to large size, black with yellow. That said a quick google suggests though that you have to ignore the body colour and look closer for the hair colour instead which can be different to what it appears overall. Not sure I want to get too close to them as I understand they can sting in defence of the nest. Bound to find some resting out of the nest though sometime.

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Incedently, bumble bee nests are only for one year.
Awesome to have, I have one in my new house'soffits. Gotta love the little critters.

In reply to craig h:


Good to know. I read that tomato producers actually pay for bumble bees for their greenhouses!

In reply to craig h:

I've got one in the garden. It's all fine and dandy so long as the dog stays away. He snapped at a bee near the entrance to the old rodent hole they're nesting in and they were a bit pissed off. It took about an hour for them to calm down.
Treat them with respect and they'll just get on with their duties. Honey bees are said to be less chilled than bumblers.

In reply to Kevster:


Quite sad if only for a season. They may come back next year though?

In reply to Queenie:
I'm planning just to ignore them except to try and get some photos when they are out and about. The ones I've had pollinating in my garden over the years have never bothered me, so hopefully the nesting ones are equally laid back.

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Bees are laid back if you leave them bee...

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

You do realise that bumble bees are just fat wasps though?

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

It's nice just to sit close-by with a beer and watch them come and go...the lazy buzzing as they venture out to forage and seeing them arrive, laden with pollen.

In reply to coinneach:

Really? .
I know little about bees and wasps, except wasps sting quickly if you disturb them! Got stung just over a week ago by a wasp when I managed to upset their nest by standing on a wooden step - how did I know they were nesting under it! Only one got me fortunately, but it was just above the eye. It came at me like a heat seeking missile!

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Could well have good crop of toms this year you lucky pieman

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

I discovered my bumble bee nest about a month ago. Its in my attic and accessed by way of the soffits.

I was quite worried initially but now we get on just fine and I'd feel that I'd failed them if they moved out!!

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

I'm with Queenie, spent a fair bit tonight doing that.

I accidently dug up a bumble bee nest a few years ago, I never got stung, the poor buggers didn't know what was going on and just buzzed around wondering where to offload the pollen.

In reply to lost1977:
Hopefully. I'm trying some unusual varieties this year like black and striped ones, and that gimmick (?) "tomtato" (tomato grafted onto potato to produce both tomatoes and potatoes from the same plant). Looking forward to seeing how they all do.

In reply to craig h:

Sounds great and a good excuse to sit in the garden with a beer .

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

A few summers ago we had a collapsed drain and while digging it out we disturbed a bees nest (big hairy bees like bumble beed but not sure if they were) they had burrowed under the patio.

As we had dug the nest out getting through to the drain we decided to put as much of it as we could including the bees still attached to it in a fishtank with a lid and cut a hole in it (the lid) placed the tank to the side of the patio put up a plank of wood suspended over the hole and lid to weather protect it and provide shade. To our surprise the bees continued to use the tank as a nest/hive for the remainder of the spring and summer. Fascinating to watch.

Have always said if I get a house with a garden I would try my hand at bee keeping for a hobby.

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Be interested to hear how you get along with the tomtato, what kind of ratios do you expect (pictures I have seen appeared to be quite tomato heavy) be interested to know how easy it would be to manipulate and increase potato yield without affecting the tom crop

Lucky!

I used to catch bees and let them loose in my green house for a few hours to pollinate my chillies and tomatoes and then let them out again

In reply to Milesy:

i dont have a greenhouse

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Black with yellow stripes and a white tail would be the commonest (and the hardest for an amateur), because there are 3 common species like that. Try to get the tail; if it's really tucked in, that's a sign of one of the three. If it has a long nose, that's another. I don't go for anything fancy, just colour in general will do.

In reply to Andy Nisbet:
Was out looking this morning. They were very active. I have at least two species in the garden as I saw one black with a red rear. The ones nesting are black and yellow with a white tail though. The speed they go in and out of the nest will mean it will be difficult for me to photo (my photography is very amateur). I will be able to get a photo when on the cotoneaster which is a favourite for bees and wasps.

In reply to lost1977:
Ratio - really don't know. The plant was a present and until I got it I did not know they existed. Time will tell. It is in the greenhouse and planted in a massive bag to try and encourage the root growth and hopefully keep the watering more stable. Probably should have had it outdoors given the current warmer weather, but normally my garden is battered by wind and rain at times such that I never have grown toms outside.

In reply to Andy Nisbet:

I have a bumblebee nest just outside my window. Now I'm going to have to go and identify them...

In reply to Dave Garnett:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/insects-spiders/bumblebee-id/flash-...

A couple of photos of the bees (plus one of the red tailed one).

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/923ubv4mvespx6u/AAC2tK7ASC14rhu781VH89HIa

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/dibgdnq0gwnplv1/AAA75GlPceT_UXILcCXxMpdKa

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/vl2x8ysxjmhz548/AACOg7xm5Uuzzf_onVvke63Fa

In reply to Climbing Pieman:

Photo 1 is definitely not amateur! Very lovely!

Elefan

In reply to Elefan:
Well thank you. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my photography!
It truth is told though I have a point and shoot camera that does it all automatically for me!

Spent a while watching the bees coming and going from the nest when I got home tonight. Confused them a bit when I shut the vents whilst I put some shading on the greenhouse as I was worried it was getting a bit hot for them. Normality restored for them when I opened the vents again . The speed they enter and leave the greenhouse means I have no chance of getting a photo of them there.
I'm beginning to think I might have at least three species of bumble bee in the garden from what I've seen tonight.

In reply to Alan M:

You don't need a garden, just somewhere big enough for a hive.