Thank you PC seatle. I have a healthy hive or nest in the middle of my compost bin. I have been Jaming this week and have put the stones and Jam waste in for them. They are having a ball. I have been worried though how I could rehouse them in winter so I can empty my Compost Bins. Do they come back in Spring? If so how can I preserve the hive/nest? Please can some one help.
If you have stinging insects around, it is a good idea to keep a bottle of vinegar handy. Bees have caustic venom neutralised by acid vinegar. Wasps have acid venom and we were told to use wet tea-bags. If you are not sure, dribble a drop of vinegar on the sting area. There should be an immediate cooling effect. From personal experience I know the vinegar works. I m also told that large containers of vinegar are routinely kept on beaches to neutralise jelly-fish stings.
Bumblebees are a big problem for us. Because client call us to get rid of them and they do not understand that bumblebees are actually sweet things.
I would really love to have some of your feedback on this issue
1)bumblebees are not protected. I feel it is a lack from our legislation
2)whenever the nest is not pausing a direct health and safety risk to tenant or workman, we plainly walk away and tell tenant to leave them
3) the issue I am having is what to say when the nest is in the fabric of the building, and that we can't get to it
4)when it come to moving a nest as part of a commercial activity what to charge the clients.
It is sad to say but killing a nest is quick and cheap. Moving a nest is more labour intensive and time consuming, and more importantly would often cause delays for other trades.
I am just unsure, how much commitment we can expect from the general public.
if at least they would be protected, it would be easier to justify.
they're beneficial insects, not aggressive unless disturbed and the nest will die out in the autumn - no one need do anything about them other than leave well alone.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi I'm looking for some advice I have a bumblebees nest under the ground in my garden and had a bee keeper round today to confirm this. I have just moved in to the property and when cleaning the garden my dad dug in to the nest (not knowing what was under the ground) he got stung and has an an allergy to bee stings which was past along to myself and I worry for my 2 boys age 2 and 4 which are very interested to the nest in the ground and keep going over to it. I have blocked it of but would rather move it due to any accidents that may happen. As my boys do keep dropping thing down by there nest. I don't want to harm or upset them would love to move them on to a settled home but can't move them myself. I have been past to pest control but like I said want them in a good home. I can't leave then due to my allergy and not knowing if my sons could react to them. Would really appreciate some advice thank you.
would the beekeeper who visited you be willing to move the nest?
If not, I would suggest that you contact your local Wildlife Trust http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/your-local-trust and see if they have someone who would help you - perhaps for a donation
Good luck.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Your local swarm liaison may be prepared to move the nest for a small fee. Look at the BBKA website, find the swarm section at the bottom of the page and enter your postcode. A list of volunteers should come up.
bee keepers will only deal with honey bees not bumble bees, they will give advice which will be along the lines of leave it alone (the only reason your father was stung was he dug into the nest, if someone did that to my house id be pretty annoyed too!)
if you are allergic to bee stings it will be only honey bee stings most likely. Different chemicals in the sting apparently (someone out there might confirm otherwise)
moving bumble bee nests can be time consuming and if you get someone to do it for you expensive, and there is a chance it will kill the colony anyway, best bet, educate your boys to stay away or build a barrier they cant get thru and leave it alone, the nest will die in winter anyway.
Yes, I think that is good advice from treehugger- I found a nest under a shed I collapsed and I constructed a kennel over the top with an entrance in the same direction as the bees were flying in. This was to protect it from the elements mainly. Same as treehugger says, they'll be gone by autumn...
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I would really love to have some of your feedback on this issue
1)bumblebees are not protected. I feel it is a lack from our legislation
2)whenever the nest is not pausing a direct health and safety risk to tenant or workman, we plainly walk away and tell tenant to leave them
3) the issue I am having is what to say when the nest is in the fabric of the building, and that we can't get to it
4)when it come to moving a nest as part of a commercial activity what to charge the clients.
It is sad to say but killing a nest is quick and cheap. Moving a nest is more labour intensive and time consuming, and more importantly would often cause delays for other trades.
I am just unsure, how much commitment we can expect from the general public.
if at least they would be protected, it would be easier to justify.
Thx
D
http://www.inoculand.co.uk
Bumble bees in the fabric of a building are likely to be Tree Bees http://bumblebeeconservation.org/images/uploads/Bee_Craft_May_2013,_Bombus_hypnorum.pdf
they're beneficial insects, not aggressive unless disturbed and the nest will die out in the autumn - no one need do anything about them other than leave well alone.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Mercedes
Yes, I can see why you want this nest moved - there is information here about how to do it http://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/faqs/moving-bumblebee-nests/
would the beekeeper who visited you be willing to move the nest?
If not, I would suggest that you contact your local Wildlife Trust http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/your-local-trust and see if they have someone who would help you - perhaps for a donation
Good luck.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Your local swarm liaison may be prepared to move the nest for a small fee. Look at the BBKA website, find the swarm section at the bottom of the page and enter your postcode. A list of volunteers should come up.
bee keepers will only deal with honey bees not bumble bees, they will give advice which will be along the lines of leave it alone (the only reason your father was stung was he dug into the nest, if someone did that to my house id be pretty annoyed too!)
if you are allergic to bee stings it will be only honey bee stings most likely. Different chemicals in the sting apparently (someone out there might confirm otherwise)
moving bumble bee nests can be time consuming and if you get someone to do it for you expensive, and there is a chance it will kill the colony anyway, best bet, educate your boys to stay away or build a barrier they cant get thru and leave it alone, the nest will die in winter anyway.
Yes, I think that is good advice from treehugger- I found a nest under a shed I collapsed and I constructed a kennel over the top with an entrance in the same direction as the bees were flying in. This was to protect it from the elements mainly. Same as treehugger says, they'll be gone by autumn...