canalboat Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 I am sure someone will tell me that bumble bees is not the right name but I have never seen so many large bees buzzing about. Is it all over country that they are appearing. I hope they do well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Sam Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 So do I, better than the wasps. Aren't the bigger ones drones? We have plenty of dandelions for them, a few daisies. Good to see the flowers emerging from the bog/flood in the fields. Cows are out today, so we will have a 100,000 hole golf course by tonight. Gives us something to watch, not seen a visiting boat since the breach. Its Very Quiet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 22 minutes ago, canalboat said: I am sure someone will tell me that bumble bees is not the right name but I have never seen so many large bees buzzing about. Is it all over country that they are appearing. I hope they do well. I've rescued 3 who flew into the boat today, well its that or one who really like my boat. Not a bee expert but I suspect they are queens looking for a nest site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 Aren't the big bumble bees called sparrows? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 There's a great Bee id guide here: Clicky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenno Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 They love the smell of hot tar. I was replacing my porch flat roof today and the number of buggers that were poking their noses in was astounding. A blast of hot air from my heat gun confirmed they were in the wrong place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.i Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 I "saved" one the other day. It had turned cold up here after a warmish day and a huge bumbly bee was lurching around on my garage floor and not able to fly. So I gave it some black currant jam that it, literally, lapped up and half an hour later it was gone. Mind you snow has been forcast so that kill em all off. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-weather-put-away-your-sunglasses-as-snow-is-coming-back-and-temperatures-set-to-tumble/ar-AAw79fj?li=BBoPWjQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 1 hour ago, canalboat said: I am sure someone will tell me that bumble bees is not the right name but I have never seen so many large bees buzzing about. Is it all over country that they are appearing. I hope they do well. It’s certainly happening round our way - Nuneaton. Seen loads recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 1 minute ago, WotEver said: It’s certainly happening round our way - Nuneaton. Seen loads recently. Noooo.Don't eat em! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassman Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 You are probably seeing these http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27701591 or these http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/white-tailed-bumblebee The White-tailed bumblebees are our native species and are the ones which have been in decline, but the European Tree bumblebees are thriving and have dramatically increased in numbers in the last few years. Before retiring from pest control a couple of years ago I was increasingly getting inundated with phone calls at this time of year about them nesting in house roofs. Thankfully I usually managed to persuade folk to leave them alone as they don't do any harm, they very rarely sting, and usually finish nesting in July, unlike wasps which nest until late autumn. And for the people who did want them 'sorted' I was usually able to rescue the bees and re-locate them. There is a common misconception that it is illegal to kill bees but it isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Grassman said: Before retiring from pest control a couple of years ago As you appear to have the knowledge wondering if you could answer me this. when I get one of these poking its nose through my rear door I use wasp spray to drive it away but have always wondered if this causes them any harm? I try to use just enough to drive them away but I have no intention of killing or harming them. Just to add I react badly to any sort of insect bites or stings and so need to take some action to prevent these but i do appreciate the importance of bees Edited April 22, 2018 by reg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) 21 minutes ago, reg said: As you appear to have the knowledge wondering if you could answer me this. when I get one of these poking its nose through my rear door I use wasp spray to drive it away but have always wondered if this causes them any harm? I try to use just enough to drive them away but I have no intention of killing or harming them. Just to add I react badly to any sort of insect bites or stings and so need to take some action to prevent these but i do appreciate the importance of bees If by wasp spray you mean shop bought spray such as "raid" then yes if it gets a sufficient dose, it's an insecticide called permethrin or similar. Just to add, the bumble bees being talked about really don't want to sting you, it would take a real effort to piss one off enough for that, just push them out with a book or trap in a glass and release Edited April 22, 2018 by tree monkey 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) 9 minutes ago, tree monkey said: If by wasp spray you mean shop bought spray such as "raid" then yes if it gets a sufficient dose, it's an insecticide called permethrin or similar. Hmm I sort of thought that but maybe subconsciously decided to not think about it too much. I try to put up a spray barrier between me and them, rather than spray them directly, but have never really been sure how much they are affected by it. Any thoughts on a different, preferably none harming, stratagem? https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/03/368622-humans-must-change-behaviour-save-bees-vital-food-production-un-report Edited April 22, 2018 by reg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 11 minutes ago, reg said: Hmm I sort of thought that but maybe subconsciously decided to not think about it too much. I try to put up a spray barrier between me and them, rather than spray them directly, but have never really been sure how much they are affected by it. Any thoughts on a different, preferably none harming, stratagem? https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/03/368622-humans-must-change-behaviour-save-bees-vital-food-production-un-report Fly screens? During mozzie season I will often spray avon skin so soft on the curtain by the front door, it seems to keep them away, so maybe try similar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumshie Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) 23 minutes ago, reg said: Any thoughts on a different, preferably none harming, stratagem? I can understand if you are allergic to stings that having a bumble bee in your home might be a bit scary but they are usually pretty non aggressive and can be shepherded out of a door or window with a sheet of paper, if left alone the will steer themselves to the bright light of a window and then you just guide them out. A bit of net curtain at your door when its open will still let in lots of air but deter most flying things. E.T.A The trick is not to flap the bit of paper just stay calm and a bee will usually bumble and bump its way back out side. Edited April 22, 2018 by Tumshie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 To get bees and wasps out I use a long stick with a little dob of honey or jam on the end, offer it to them and they hop on, slowly carry it to the door and give the stick a little flick and away they fly. They say that Bumbles bees and pigeons can be the fastest beasties in a straight line on erf at about 90 mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 A big wasp landed on the snooker table of the match between Steve Mc Quire and Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucibal this morning. Steve McQuire clubbed and squashed it it with his butt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) He must have been snooker (honeynut) loopy, nuts are we, clubbed to death by Steve & Ronnie. Edited April 22, 2018 by rusty69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) 49 minutes ago, bizzard said: To get bees and wasps out I use a long stick with a little dob of honey or jam on the end, offer it to them and they hop on, slowly carry it to the door and give the stick a little flick and away they fly. They say that Bumbles bees and pigeons can be the fastest beasties in a straight line on erf at about 90 mph. Like that idea thanks, will give that a try. Worst I ever had was midges whilst climbing on skye, couldn't get away face full of puss and swollen lymph nodes, best I've ever looked. Second worst was disturbing a hornets nest whilst tying up, they decided they liked the inside of my tea shirt. Had to make choice between letting the boat go or get stung to death, made the wrong choice and payed for it for weeks after. Edited April 22, 2018 by reg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronnietucker Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 46 minutes ago, bizzard said: Steve McQuire clubbed and squashed it with his butt. Nasty. Could have ended up with swollen cheeks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassman Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 Good advice from Tree monkey and Tumshie. You can never say never but bumblebees rarely sting. Once when I had some nesting in my rockery I spent an hour weeding and tidying up right by the nest entrance and they didn't bother me at all. When I used to relocate the nests, usually either digging them out from the ground or removing them from under loft insulation, they used to buzz very loudly but surprisingly they were not particularly aggressive. Mind you I would wear my bee keepers suit just in case! Many of the calls I used to get were from people who were surprised that beekeepers hadn't been interested when they'd phoned. A lot of folk don't realise that bumblebees don't produce honey. A bit of trivia - Bumblebees are reckoned to be better pollinators than honey bees because they make more visits to plants and flowers per day and 'work' longer hours than honey bees do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronnietucker Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 23 minutes ago, Grassman said: and 'work' longer hours than honey bees do. Now I have an image in my head of the honey bees, all happy and whistling, clocking out nice and early with the bumblebees growling at them angrily at having to work on. I really need to stop humanizing animals. Oh, and get out more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 5 hours ago, tree monkey said: Fly screens? During mozzie season I will often spray avon skin so soft on the curtain by the front door, it seems to keep them away, so maybe try similar Out of mozzie season it helps him keep in touch with his feminine side, backwards or not... the best reason for voting for Brexit was so we can have our citronella stuff back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac of Cygnet Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 It was of course conclusively proved back in the 1930's that it is aerodynamically impossible for bumblebees to fly. If anyone here remembers the 1930's, then they surely will agree that was true, but the little critters have learned since then! Isn't evolution wonderful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 3 hours ago, reg said: Worst I ever had was midges whilst climbing on skye, couldn't get away face full of puss and swollen lymph nodes, best I've ever looked. Scottish midges are the worst creatures on this planet. Any other country would have evacuated and sprayed the entire place with DDT years ago. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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