Uninvited guests

[Feltwell]

My bay window has a hole around 1" in diameter on one end near the roof, I think where originally a pipe went through to drain the roof. I've not got around to blocking it up yet, but spotted today that bees have taken up residence! Bumble bees by the look of it -will check properly in better light tomorrow, it was getting dark when I spotted them today.

A bit of a pain as I need to strip the paint from that area and block the hole up, but I won't disturb the bees - they've had a tough time of it in recent years. I don't think bumble bees will do much damage, and as the hole is about 12' up I think they're far enough away that my working on the window beneath them shouldn't bother them overly. I reckon they'll be gone by Autumn.

 

[LadyArowana]

It's kind to leave them, as you say they have had a difficult time and are vital to everyone's wellbeeing.

We've obviously got a wasp nest in the roof above the apartment :evil: I heard strange noises when I was in the bathroom and was concerned there was an electrical or plumbing issue brewing behind something..... further investigation revealed the tell tale flight path of a steady stream of wasps. We have access to the space, but I haven't got around to calling someone. Might just ignore them, I don't open that window anyway. Other than being stingy I don't think they do damage, unless anyone knows differently?

 

[malcolm]

I pointed / rebuilt a chimney that was full of bees and they didn't seem to mind. Bumblebees are especially difficult to upset so you can probably work around them.

It's worth checking out the species and reading up about what they do over winter as they could well be a type that likes to lay eggs in a bay window and emerge again the following April. Blocking the hole in Autumn would prevent them from getting out.

 

[88v8]

If bees set up shop they could be there for years, and jolly good too. The worst you might get is some honey staining in the ceiling if it's hot and the comb leaks.

Wasps, don't block up the hole without killing them, or they' could chew their way into the house, as a neighbour discovered when he did just that and they chewed through the lime mortar into his bedroom. Thousands of wasps.
As you say, they do no harm, and in fact quite a lot of good in killing pests. Unlike bees, wasps do not re-use old nests.

Ivor

 

[Feltwell]

Got the ladders out today for a closer look, they are without doubt Bombus lucorum, the White-tailed Bumblebee. Lovely little chaps, busy flying to & fro, coming back laden with pollen sacks on each hind leg. Not at all bothered by me being close to their nest entrance.

I'm not terribly keen on them being permanent guests - I could do without the mess that leaking honey could make - however, they're here for this year. From what I've gathered from a quick look on t'interweb they may not be permanent guests:-

The White-tailed Bumblebee is a very common bumblebee which emerges early in the spring and can be seen feeding on flowers right through to the autumn. It can be found in gardens, farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows and heathland: anywhere there are flowers to feed on. As with other social insects, the queen emerges from hibernation in spring and starts the colony by laying a few eggs that hatch as workers; these workers tend the young and nest. Males emerge later and mate with new females who are prospective queens. Both the males and old queen die in the autumn, but the new queens hibernate.

Bees don't cause any problems to your property, and nor are you in danger of being stung if they are left alone and unprovoked. After the summer season the bees will go away and not return to the nesting site the following year. By the time a colony has become obvious its activity will be about to decline naturally. Generally, colonies formed in spring usually decline naturally by late July, if not sooner. Therefore if at all possible always leave bee nests alone to thrive as their presence is actually beneficial for gardeners and their crop.

So I think the plan is to leave them alone, do nothing until the late autumn when I'll block the hole up - they should all be out by then, the queens hibernate in holes in the ground apparently. I shall however look to see what purpose-built accommodation I can make for them to encourage them to return next year.

 

[MikeG]

I'd suggest removing what you can of their nest when you block up the hole, as wasps have a habit of following bees into a location, apparently, and they are first attracted by the smell of an old nest. Given their persistence, if they badly want to get to the old bees nest, they might try to find their way in to your wall nearby.

 

[Feltwell]

Alas there is no way to remove the nest remains Mike, not without first removing my (1 year old & rather expensive) lead roof. All I can do is block it up well and hope for the best.

 

[Zebra]

Other than being stingy I don't think they do damage...

Yes, awfully penny-pinching, aren't they, wasps?

 

[LadyArowana]

Other than being stingy I don't think they do damage...

Yes, awfully penny-pinching, aren't they, wasps?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Feltwell]

 

[Damon]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that it's only the honeybee that actually produces honey so you'll be safe with the bumblebees not making a mess everywhere.

We've got some in our roof cavity at the moment and they are lovely little creatures. I saw one the size of a golf ball the other day!

 

[Feltwell]

I think you're right Damon - a quick Google reveals from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust:-

Bumblebees only make small amounts of a honey-like substance to eat themselves.

I'm quite glad to have the little chaps there really, it's nice seeing them coming and going. Just a pain that they've chosen to nest in a window that is in mid-restoration!

LadyA, you asked do wasps do damage - their nests are built from pulped wood I believe so they will cause superficial damage by knawing at wooden items, but I believe they tend to go for fence panels or sheds where the surface is weathered and a bit rough and easy to chew the wood off. They apparently have benefits for gardeners, but they have a PR image problem that would put even our beloved politicians to shame! I hate the damn things, they seem to sting out of spite, and who hasn't had a pub meal or picnic ruined by the little stripey blighters?

 

[88v8]

...wasps do damage - their nests are built from pulped wood......

They do love rotted wood. I frequently see them on the old garage doors, prospecting. But the doors are not rotted, just old, so unsuitable. Disappointed, they depart.
In the garden of our previous home there was a monkey house, taken by the PO in 1929 in payment for a debt. It was somewhat decrepit and I never got round to restoring it. Over 30 years the wasps recycled so much of it that parts of the roof and a good deal of the walls had collapsed. Of a quiet summer evening one could hear the wasps chomping, rasping, converting maison monkey into wigwam wasp.

Recycling, aeons ahead of us.

Ivor

 

[Feltwell]

At the risk of asking the bleedin'obvious - and presuming that your PO did not intend to keep monkeys - what is a monkey house?

We must be popular with bees - just noticed another white-tailed bumblebee nest in a bird box in the back garden. We've never had any before this year to my knowledge.