Bumble Bees

[scrw.]

Got myself some help with the pollenation in the orchard this year.

before opening, need a few more bricks to keep the wind off them, they are south facing at one end of our orchard.
2019-04-03_12-39-48 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Only got the door 1/2 open and they were out, quick tactical withdrawal to assess if they were grumpy bees or not, luckily they seem to be docile.
2019-04-03_12-40-19 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Door fully open and the bees having a look about
2019-04-03_12-40-47 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

VID_20190403_120955 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

They had a mooch about, a quick fly, then retreated back into the hive as it started snowing. Lifespan of the hive is 3 months before a new queen is born and flies off, hope to get 2 hives in over the summer.

[Patch1875]

Very cool.

[Mr Pointy]

Is this some sort of online 'bees in a box' you can buy or did you make it yourself?

[scrw.]

online thing, I have found out they are supplied to trade by Agralan, and their website has links to stockist.

Next year I hope to have a honey bee setup.

[Active75]

Nice to see. I hope that goes well.

We have a big problem with Asian Hornets killing bees here in France. This pest only arrived a few years ago but is proving to be a destroyer.

[scrw.]

Hope they don't make it up here! I assume they need warm weather?

[Turn7]

I love Bees and do all I can in the garden to help them.

Wish I had space for a hive as I love fresh honey on the comb !

[Active75]

I think they do need warm weather. We have some syrup traps, like the wasp trap out this year ready as they usually appear now. These pests make a nest like the wasp, but massive, and often in trees, not buildings. Probably need a flamethrower to destroy the nest!

[bucks]

Keep us updated during the while please, be very interested to see how this goes.

[Mr Pointy]

Turn7 said:

I love Bees and do all I can in the garden to help them.

Wish I had space for a hive as I love fresh honey on the comb !

These are bumble bees not honey bees & seem to be quite self contained in the box. I'm not sure but they seem to be more independent & don't need much maintenance, although I'm not sure if the box lasts more than a year.

https://www.agralan.co.uk/gardening-friends/bees.h...

Edited by Mr Pointy on Wednesday 3rd April 16:32

[scrw.]

colony will only last 3 months, it dies off when they send a new queen out into the world. To be fair you could stick one of these hives is a small garden, they don't take up much space.
Would love them to do one with a clear side so you could easily see the bees at work.

[scrw.]

they are out and about today, saw a couple of drones fly off from the hive while I was watching them.

2019-04-05_12-44-36 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2019-04-05_12-45-00 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

2019-04-05_12-45-20 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

More info on Buff Tailed Bumble Bees
http://www.bloomsforbees.co.uk/id-guide/buff-taile...

[p1stonhead]

scrw. said:

Hope they don't make it up here! I assume they need warm weather?

I see hornets quite often in summer now in the South East. Quite sedate looking things to be fair but fk me are the big!

[951TSE]

p1stonhead said:

scrw. said:

Hope they don't make it up here! I assume they need warm weather?

I see hornets quite often in summer now in the South East. Quite sedate looking things to be fair but fk me are the big!

Despite their size European hornets are supposed to be gentle creatures although I've never put it to the test. They look like large wasps. If you see an Asian hornet on your travels though:

https://www.bbka.org.uk/faqs/identifying-asian-hor...

Please report it to the authorities as noted on the above page. As said the're already decimating honey bees in France and the Channel Islands. Some have made it to these shores already in the past few years.

[Boosted LS1]

Wild japanese bee's have a defence against the asian hornet which introduced honey bees don't have. When a scout comes knocking at the hives front door they smother it until it dies from heat exhaustion. The messenger never gets to report the hives location.

Imported bee hives get decimated.

[scrw.]

Bees are really in action now, struggled to get a photo of any today, zipping in and out of the hive really quickly. My pear trees are in blossom and seen them feeding on them, hope they do the job as the pear crop has always been pants

[EarlOfHazard]

I will bee bookmarking this thread

[Taita]

EarlOfHazard said:

I will bee bookmarking this thread

Do buzz off

[g3org3y]

Would this kind of set up yield any honey?

[scrw.]

No, only being used for pollenation.