Anyone know what kind of bee this is?

globalkilla · #1 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 12:16 PM

Hi all, I've found a bee's nest on the ground in my back garden and was wondering if anyone can tell me what kind of bee it is? There seems to be white ones and orange coloured ones.

I managed to take a few snaps, not great ones but hope they will be good enough to ID the bee

ImageShack Album - 4 images

Many thanks

eucera · #2 (**permalink**) 27-06-2011, 08:40 PM

They are all the same - Bombus pascuorum (a bumble bee)

globalkilla · #3 (**permalink**) 28-06-2011, 09:22 AM

Thanks. They seemed a bit small for a bumble bee, and didn't know what bee's nest on the ground.

What is best to do with the nest? How long will it be active if I leave it?

Thanks

Dillybythesea · #4 (**permalink**) 28-06-2011, 06:13 PM

That's a bit of a treat - to have Bombus pascuorum nesting in the back garden! Unless there are special issues it'd be great to leave them to carry on. As I understand it, even if all goes well for them, the nest will only last through the summer into autumn. The only survivors after that are the new queens for next year, and they go off and find somewhere else to overwinter.