A big bumble bee

village wench · #1 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 03:30 PM

I have a very large 'bumble bee' going in and out of a hole, in the mortar in my house wall,do all bumble bees live in groups/hives(entomologist I am not

)or can I just leave this one to go about its business until it moves on........obviously if it is going to move in fifty friends or have four thousand babies I am going to have to block the hole quickly,it would be a shame

,the cat has brought home smaller mice

squishy · #2 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 03:36 PM

it sounds like a queen looking for a place to start a colony, yes, but i dont think you need to do anything about it, unless you are incredibly squeamish (it doesn't sound like you are

) or if that would let them into your house. because of their size, bumble bees live in smaller colonies then other bees, with fewer individuals, so their won't be millions for you to worry about. hey! it might not even nest there! it may go off somewhere else. bumble bees only sting as an absolute last resort, you would have to antagonise them an awful lot to provoke that.

hope that helps

village wench · #3 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 03:42 PM

Thanks squishy,I would prefer to let them live happily,trouble is I have seen this bee going in and out several times and her new home is exactly six inches from my back door.........I could now find myself helping bumble bees escape the house all summer

...........I once had a fabulous wasps nest behind the fascias above the spare bedroom window,they were fun to watch and obviously scarier than some lovely fuzzy bees.
Will they move home at the end of summer or do they move in permanently ?

ron1863 · #4 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 03:43 PM

I would leave it alone HW, if it had been a wasp that would be different. We had a nest inside the cavity wall at our kitchen window - a nightmare.

Lance Morgan · #5 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 04:17 PM

bumble bee is not likely to enter hole in wall to nest they prefer the ground -mousehole or such. Could it be a queen wasp or masonary bee. The latter are no problem and will do no harm.

village wench · #6 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Morgan

bumble bee is not likely to enter hole in wall to nest they prefer the ground -mousehole or such. Could it be a queen wasp or masonary bee. The latter are no problem and will do no harm.

Nope....had masonry bees before,everyone said get rid,I used to sit outside on sunny days and watch them.........if it is a wasp it is the fattest fluffiest wasp ever seen

..........seriously it is definitely a bumble bee, been coming and going for a few days now,if I can I will take a picture of it.

James M · #7 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:28 PM

Well I've seen bumble bees going in and out of a hole in the wall on our house, don't know whether they were nesting or not though.

Lance Morgan · #8 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:46 PM

Ok it is a bit early for masonry bee anyway. be interested to see pic.

squishy · #9 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:52 PM

bumble bees really wouldn't bee (sorry

) a problem. if there is a way from the hole the bee is going into that gets inside your house, maybe just seal off the part that leads in, but leave the outer bit open.