Attracting and keeping a bee colony

[anonymous-user]

Not bothered about a hive and all the work, but quite interested to have a 'natural' bee colony establish itself somewhere in the garden.

Is it possible? If so, how?

[Nimby]

Unfortunately a wild colony left to itself will almost certainly be weakened by the varroa mite and die out in a few years.
However there is some evidence that they are adapting; a few colonies seem to cope so you may be lucky.

You can get pheromone attractants, though the scouts are quite good at finding suitable new homes. They'll need a reasonably large, well-insulated, dry space with a small entrance they can defend from wasps. The more space they have the less frequently they'll swarm.

Don't expect any swarms this time of year though - May to July mainly.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks

Will look at the pheromones and have a suitable box to put in situ later in the year