is this a bumblebee ?

[familyguy1]

Hi all,

we have had about 10 what I think are bumblebees find there way into our kitchen dining room, over the last week. I say bumblebee but they are all black with redish back legs, they are dopey and sounds like a bumblebee.

If they are I don't want to get pest control in, but I have a 1yr old so don't want him stung also an aunt is coming to stay for 2 days who is allergic to bee stings.



(I hope the pictures come out)

I've tried plugging up the gaps in the floorboards as they are the only holes I can think of and find.

Any suggestion welcome.

(I rang pest control and without seeing the pictures, he did not want to come out as bumblebee's get a hard time and need as much help as possible)

[Sheets Tabuer]

Yes.

You'd need to go some to get stung by a bumblebee, they die so avoid it at all costs if they can help it.

[familyguy1]

thanks being as they are rolling around on the floor and a toddler walking around in barefeet it's a possibility.

Pest control said if there is a nest there would only be about 10-15 of them, so I'm hoping most have flown out already, unless they are flying back in.



Thanks

[Doofus]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Yes.

You'd need to go some to get stung by a bumblebee, they die so avoid it at all costs if they can help it.

Not so. A bumble bee sting isn't barbed like a honey bee. Nevertheless, you'd have to try pretty hard to get stung by one. They are generally incredibly docile.

[Nimby]

I'll ask the missus to identify the species when she gets in. At this time of year the queens are only just emerging from hibernation and are looking for nest sites.
This one clearly isn't a tree bumblebee (they have white abdomens) so it's ground nesting - and they prefer old mouse holes. Maybe that's what's attracting yours ...

[familyguy1]

thanks, much appreciated. The 10 plus "bumble bee's" we've had all have the same all black markings.

[Nimby]

OK she's back, and says it's a female hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes - which is not a bumblebee).

http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=bee/apidae/anthop...

[familyguy1]

Great thank you, that does seem to be identical to ours, the link does not detail how many in a nest? do they sting?
I
'll get googling.

Thanks again