Bees won't bug us, will they?

[Jonah]

Hello all,
Sorry I joined a long time ago, but life has meant I don't get on here they way I intended . But I have a little issue, and wondered if anyone would be so kind as to advise me.

We seem to have bees going in somewhere in our porch roof. It's a flat roof that we have filled in with a plasterboard ceiling, and my guess is they are creating their nest in the cavity between roof and plaster. I'm sure my neighbours aren't keen, but I really don't want to disturb them [the bees, not the neighbours!] . I do have 3 young children and it is near the front door and bins, but I wondered if anyone knew of a valid reason for moving them? I hope not! I could do with some ammo incase I come underfire from next door!
I'm quite happy to let them do their thing for the rest of the year and deal with it when they have moved on. Do you agree? We do have plans to extend in the area, so that could be an issue, but I honestly don't think that would happen this year anyway.

Thank you if you can help, Helen.

[eucera]

These are probably bumbles but a pic or a full description would be helpful. Different bees have different behaviour and nesting cycles, and once we have an idea of which species they are we can get somewhere.

Ideally, whatever species they are, they are better left alone. I wish bees would come and nest in my porch!

[Jonah]

Hello Eucera, thank you so much for your reply,

I think you are right, they do seem to be largish bees, and we presumed bumbles. But my knowledge is not good, so I will do my best to try and get a few pictures or a movie of them in and out in the next day or so.

I always refer to my very old 'bible' for these things - a 1970's Readers Digest Book of the Countryside - but it doesn't show many species, although it mentions 16 bumble bees in the UK. I hope they are all still with us.
According to that, I presume I may have the first born sterile females nourishing the nest? There only seem to be a couple back and forth at the moment. If they are Bumble Bees, am I right in thinking there will only be about 150 max in there when the nest matures? I can definitely live with that, even if there is only a layer of plasterboard between us.
My neighbours are not what I consider 'creature friendly' people, and they would find any excuse to have a go and bully us to dispose of these 'annoying insects'. If I told them we'd probably be dead in 5 years if the bees weren't here, they'd just label us as weirdos. Actually they probably already have, because we've got plants in the garden!
Thanks again, you've already added to my ammo, much obliged!

[eucera]

Hi! Any guide to bumbles dating from the 1970's will be woefully out of date on a whole range of fronts I'm afraid.

Could you describe the colour pattern of your bees for us. I think, then, we might be able to start having some informed debate about which species they might be.

Cheers, Stuart

[Jonah]

Hi Stuart,
I'll have to try and get a closer look at them, there are so many in the garden at the moment, I need to be sure I'm getting the right ones. There doesn't seem to be much toing and froing so far today though, I don't know why, but I've only seen them go in and out about 3 times in half an hour. And I missed a close up every time! I may have to get my husband having a go later, he's better at macros than me.
I know my books old, I just wish I could find a good modern replacement. It's fantastic and I used to spend hours pawing over it as a child.

Out of interest, in what ways have things changed for the bumbles since then? I hope it's good changes, though I suspect not.

[eucera]

The changes are significant: Some massive declines, some advances, and some changes. If you go to the NBN gateway (a quick google will get you there) and do searches for the various Bombus species using the new interactive tool they have developed, then you can set the time slices whose records you want to look at