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Pampas grass removal/bees

jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
in Problem solving
Over the last week or two I have been cutting down, a bit of time, a very large pampas grass plant (over7 foot). 

I am close to the bottom now… And using a combination of just pulling bits out,  Raking and electric saw for particulaly tough sections ... But I noticed a few bees buzzing around as I got close to the bottom.

Then when I looked at the material I had raked out at one stage I noticed what looked like a honeycomb structure and quite a few large bees buzzing around… I think I must’ve disturbed some kind of bees nest… Although there wasn’t hundreds of them ... more like 10-20 of them.

At this point I stopped. I realise this is a gardening forum and this question creeps into the wildlife domain… but I’m just wondering if anybody else has encountered this or if anybody can suggest whator if anybody can suggest what my best course of action is?


Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Could you post a picture?  And maybe one of th bees for identification, if you can find one resting somewhere.  
    Utah, USA.
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    I got a photo, I think they are bumble bees, not honey bees.  I was stung by one this (through a t-shirt) this morning and it followed me.  Here is a picture, I think I have moved a chunk of the nest into my white garden rubbish bag so it is just sitting there now, whilst possibly some other parts of it are still on the plant … pics below:


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    As you say, probably a bumble bee nest ... it's a shame but it's happened now and can't be helped ... I expect they'll move on and build another elsewhere.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It is a shame, but l'm guessing that now they've been disturbed they will move in a couple of days as Dove says. I don't think they would attempt to rebuild.
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    I was going to try to move the nest at night time to a corner of the garden with a load of the material.  I wonder if they might rebuild there?
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585

    https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebee-nests/

    This may be of some help @jamesharcourt

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