Bee in bird box

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Jenny W

Sorry if I'm wrong. The nest box scheme I'm involved with has been running for around 30 years (although I've not been involved with it for that long!) and it has never been known for bumblebees to nest in tit boxes because of the boxes small size. Maybe they haven't used them for some other reason?

Yeah we often find Hornets in the boxes, but definetely too small for a fully established Hornets nest.

A relatively new species of bumblebeee to our shores which has successfully colonised- Bombus hypnorum- apparently quite often uses these boxes.

[fleetwood]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

A relatively new species of bumblebeee to our shores which has successfully colonised- Bombus hypnorum- apparently quite often uses these boxes.

I have an redundant bird box that blue tits used last year, however I have noticed that a large amount of the above bees have taken up residence in this box this year. They seem to like the pollen produced by my lupin bush which is in full bloom. The area I live at is the North Fylde coast.

[jacqui'H']

Hi

Yes I also discovered bees in one of my bird boxes, gave me a fright as wasn't expecting them to emerge as I pulled the overgrown plant back! I am in a village in Bedfordshire. Not sure which bees they are, will have a closer look this evening, but hopefully will be able to leave them be :-)

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Jenny W

Hi,

Bumblebees will go into nest boxes and strangely enough they are dominant over birds - you wouldn't think it would you!

Often when you get them in there it's the queen insects nest prospecting, however, a small Tit box is not big enough for a bumblebees nest and so you should not get the bee actually nesting in there. They will also tend to just 'hang out' in the boxes sometimes as well, but this shouldn't last.

We found a Hornet in one of our boxes the other day - again, she won't stay in there as it's not big enough - but they are beautiful insects, brilliant to see so close up!

I've had hornets breeding in boxes - in one instance the hornets were observed killing and removing the large nestling Blue Tits. I'm not sure how big their nests are supposed to be, but they've built combs. Wood Wasps also commonly nest in my boxes. I had Bombus lapidarius nesting in a box last year, and have B. hypnorum this year. B. hynorum is spreading very quickly and is now widespread in England and Wales.