Bumblebee Boxes

[nightshade]

I have been watching various Bumblebee queens looking for nest sites and several of my buried flowerpots have been looked at and rejected as have the 2" bamboo tubes. They seem to land and walk up to a hole to check its suitability and definitely prefer a dry below ground site, one did start a nest under a flagstone on a pathway but it came to nowt. Looking on google I came across this Bumblebee nest boxes don't work
They really rubbish the shop bought bee boxes, but I seem to be doing the right things.

[paulinemiller10]

What an interesting write up Nightshade, I have tried all sorts and still working on it, but I think the boxes they make are too closed in, and they may need to be a lot more airy, its the same with hedgehog boxes, I think they need a lot more air, the hay soon becomes musty and full of dust, I used to make boxes with open slats either side for hedgehogs, the hay kept much better.

Also bumblebees don't like new smelling material, so it needs to be put out the year before, I have one nest in the tower block I made with trays, its very airy, the bedding has been there for nearly two years and has kept really well, and Mrs Bumble is happy, will post some pics on bumblebee story as Cowgirl would like to see the tower blocks.

The bought boxes are very expensive to buy, and like it says they just don't use them, its more for making money than caring for the bumblebees. Pauline.