Bees nest "any ideas?"

[TopOfTheFlop]

Hey all,

cleared out the garden ready for new concrete to put garage on. Old she'd gone and under some rubble there are big fat well fed looking bumble bees.
Any ideas on how to get them out? Builders are happy to rip it all out but they are a bit heavy handed for my liking and I wouldn't want to ruin their nest.
Cheers

 

[tsped83]

Sorry, I'm in the wrong place, thought this was Golf Monthly....alas....

 

[chrisg]

I guess smoke em all out, then rip it up - they'll find somewhere new* But dont kill the bees (wasps however are another matter:angry

*based entirely on guesswork and no actual knowledge of bees!

 

[rickg]

Call your local bee keeping society. They should happily come along and remove them at no cost.

 

[Old Skier]

Call your local bee keeping society. They should happily come along and remove them at no cost.

Contact the council or local bee guys, I'm not sure but I don't think you are supposed to destroy nests.

 

[rickg]

Contact the council or local bee guys, I'm not sure but I don't think you are supposed to destroy nests.

Council will charge......bee keepers won't....

 

[Foxholer]

http://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/faqs/moving-bumblebee-nests/

Not particularly 'helpful' I'm afraid - if you are going to concrete over it.

Now that it's exposed, if you are able to schedule other work for a few days, the bees may decide it's no longer safe to nest there and move elsewhere!

 

[chrisg]

/\ all sensible good advise, please ignore my ridiculous (drink fuelled) suggestion!!!!!

 

[richart]

Just don't get stung Craig ! I managed to tread on one in bare feet a few days ago. Initially thought I had trodden on a red hot needle. Sheer agony and the bee was clamped to my foot. Then a few minutes later no pain and I thought mmmmm not too bad. Unfortunately the next few nights I couldn't sleep, as the sting itched like an itchy thing.

We have a lot of bees in the garden, and normally they are no trouble especially the big bumble ones, but when they are dozy and on the floor beware.

I got a lot of sympathy from my daughter, whose only concern was that the bee might die.

 

[williamalex1]

I just removed a new wasp nest the size of a golf ball from inside our shed. Using a long screwdriver I gently prised it into a flip top bin and ran as fast as i could and dumped it into a close by field, My neighbours must have had a laugh watching me trying to run, with wasps chasing me.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Sorry, I'm in the wrong place, thought this was Golf Monthly....alas....

?! He has posted it in the out of bounds ?

Do people only want to see threads about golf ?

As rick said Craig give the local bee society a bell

 

[richart]

I just removed a new wasp nest the size of a golf ball from inside our shed. Using a long screwdriver I gently prised it into a flip top bin and ran as fast as i could and dumped it into a close by field, My neighbours must have had a laugh watching me trying to run, with wasps chasing me.

Brave man, I usually get the wasp removal man in. He is also our window cleaner which helps. Had a nest in the chimney last year. Managed to smoke them out by lighting a fire, but it was bloody hot having a fire in July.

 

[chrisg]

I just removed a new wasp nest the size of a golf ball from inside our shed. Using a long screwdriver I gently prised it into a flip top bin and ran as fast as i could and dumped it into a close by field, My neighbours must have had a laugh watching me trying to run, with wasps chasing me.

haha

as much as I hate wasps {i sat on one and got stung on the ar**} their nests are wonderful constructions - if you find a disused one take the chance to open it up... nature is amazingly clever.

 

[Foxholer]

As rick said Craig give the local bee society a bell

Bees and bells can be an 'interesting' combination. Many years ago we had a great swarm gradually move across our back yard. The neighbour 'kindly' used the old-wives-tale that ringing a bell would stop them swarming. It worked as the Queen settled on a tree in the middle of our yard! Thanks a bunch!! Rang the local bee-man and he came and collected them for his hives.

 

[williamalex1]

haha

as much as I hate wasps {i sat on one and got stung on the ar**} their nests are wonderful constructions - if you find a disused one take the chance to open it up... nature is amazingly clever.

I had a good look at the nest before i removed it, as there were only a couple of wasps around. It looked like a tan coloured, upside down rose.
When i moved it to the bin some wasps appeared from inside the petals. That was when the lid was closed and I buzzed off.:cheers:

 

[guest100718]

A local bee keeper may come and take away a honey bee nest but not bumble bees. Youd know if they were honey bees as there would be 1000s of them. while bumbles are small nests.
If you can leave them then thats best, do not poison them.

 

[TopOfTheFlop]

Sorry I thought this was in 'Out of Bounds' for anything off topic

Sorry, I'm in the wrong place, thought this was Golf Monthly....alas....

 

[TopOfTheFlop]

Thanks for the comments chaps (apart from tsped)

I contacted a local bee keeper so i'll see if he would be happy to take it away.

I'm pretty sure they are bumble bees - and every time i go to clear the last remaining rubbish away from the area 2 big boys come out to guard the fort and size me up. They are massive!!

Richart U know I need my hands and feet for the weekend so i will be careful.

 

[tsped83]

Sorry I thought this was in 'Out of Bounds' for anything off topic

It wasn't originally. Good luck with the bees. Bee careful.