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Post by Cherry on Jul 6, 2013 13:14:54 GMT
My camera is not very good and I always admire the wildlife photographs forum members add. However, this morning I took one I am quite proud of. The reason is that the bee was huge. Is it a queen bee? The others on the Deutzia were ordinary size. This is a real bee magnet.   |
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Bees
Jul 6, 2013 17:39:08 GMT
Post by SueA on Jul 6, 2013 17:39:08 GMT
It does look like a queen bufftail bumblebee Cherry , we have quite a lot of bees especially bumblebees but still hardly any butterflies. |
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Bees
Jul 6, 2013 18:04:49 GMT
Post by peony on Jul 6, 2013 18:04:49 GMT
It does look like a queen bufftail bumblebee Cherry , we have quite a lot of bees especially bumblebees but still hardly any butterflies. Sue, do the bufftails nest underground, the bee in Cherry's photograph looks the same as the ones nesting under my shed? |
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Bees
Jul 7, 2013 19:19:17 GMT
Post by SueA on Jul 7, 2013 19:19:17 GMT
They do peony , their latin name Bombus terrestris I think means 'large earth bee' & they quite often nest in holes in the ground which are already there like abandoned mouseholes. I've found queens hibernating in pot plants sometimes as well so they seem to like soil, I've got a bumblebee box which they will use but I don't think anything has taken out a lease on mine, you can catch them & put them in the box but I wouldn't want to force anything to live here!  |
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Bees
Jul 7, 2013 19:32:50 GMT
Post by peony on Jul 7, 2013 19:32:50 GMT
They do peony , their latin name Bombus terrestris I think means 'large earth bee' & they quite often nest in holes in the ground which are already there like abandoned mouseholes. I've found queens hibernating in pot plants sometimes as well so they seem to like soil, I've got a bumblebee box which they will use but I don't think anything has taken out a lease on mine, you can catch them & put them in the box but I wouldn't want to force anything to live here! Thank you for the information Sue  I sat and watched them for some time today and noticed that some of the bees going into the hole are a lot bigger than others and make a much louder buzzing noise. I think the hole under the shed was already there because a couple of years ago I spotted a wood mouse going under the shed on several occasions. I have a bee box and I think it is being used as I can see where some of the holes have been sealed with what looks like mud. |
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Bees
Jul 7, 2013 19:41:10 GMT
Post by SueA on Jul 7, 2013 19:41:10 GMT
I bet they will be using the woodmouse hole then peony , if the box you've got is one of those with lots of holes in they will be solitary bees like mason or leafcutter bees which block individual holes. I've got a couple of those type of boxes too & I know we have leafcutter bees, they chop chunks out of my rose leaves but they don't seem to use the boxes I have, I think they prefer holes in our wall where bits of the pointing has dropped out! |
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Bees
Jul 7, 2013 20:33:21 GMT
Post by Cherry on Jul 7, 2013 20:33:21 GMT
Very interesting Sue. I am glad you asked the question Peony.
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Bees
Jul 7, 2013 20:57:51 GMT
Post by steve2t on Jul 7, 2013 20:57:51 GMT
Some bumble bees that nest underground do so in mouse holes. They sniff them out. You can build an underground nest box and provide the "scent" they are seeking, by erm................ peeing where its needed! And no, I'm not taking it!  I was told this by a bumble bee person. |
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Bees
Jul 7, 2013 20:59:48 GMT
Post by steve2t on Jul 7, 2013 20:59:48 GMT
And as for watching them........ they are far more entertaining than the idiot box (telly) |
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Bees
Jul 8, 2013 10:23:45 GMT
Post by sweetpea on Jul 8, 2013 10:23:45 GMT
And as for watching them........ they are far more entertaining than the idiot box (telly) Especially at this time of year Especially at this time of year Especially at this time of year Especially at this time of year Especially at this time of year Especially at this time of year the season of endless repeats |
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Bees
Jul 8, 2013 11:46:13 GMT
Post by Rosie on Jul 8, 2013 11:46:13 GMT
I have a solitary bee, mason i think, in a wee hole by the fence in the flower garden Lovely picture too Cherry |
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Bees
Jul 12, 2013 5:14:25 GMT
Post by Cherry on Jul 12, 2013 5:14:25 GMT
My bees are so prolific I hear them buzzing when I am outside and am more determined than ever to plant bee friendly plants. My neighbour who owns the hives is not getting so many. She asked me if I provide water for them and thinks that is why I have so many. We do see them drinking and I have an old enamel bowl under the big rhodie and the bird bath. They seem able to walk out of puddles when I hose the kennel. She said they fly up to 3 miles to feed. I wonder how high they fly because we have the A10 between us.
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Bees
Jul 12, 2013 13:18:42 GMT
Post by SueA on Jul 12, 2013 13:18:42 GMT
I'm not sure exactly how high bees can fly but I do know they will fly quite high to get to nectar etc. as I've seen them up amongst the top branches of our ornamental cherry tree when it's in bloom at around 20-25 ft. so they would be able to fly over the trucks on the road near you Cherry . We have lots of bees at the moment & hoverflies too but very few wasps, ladybirds or butterflies, think the late spring must have caused them lots of problems. |
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Bees
Jul 12, 2013 14:14:32 GMT
Post by Cherry on Jul 12, 2013 14:14:32 GMT
I'm not sure exactly how high bees can fly but I do know they will fly quite high to get to nectar etc. as I've seen them up amongst the top branches of our ornamental cherry tree when it's in bloom at around 20-25 ft. so they would be able to fly over the trucks on the road near you Cherry . We have lots of bees at the moment & hoverflies too but very few wasps, ladybirds or butterflies, think the late spring must have caused them lots of problems. We are exactly the same Sue and usually I am sweeping ladybirds out of the caravan. There is not one. |
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Bees
Jul 15, 2013 18:39:14 GMT
Post by SueA on Jul 15, 2013 18:39:14 GMT
Here's a photo showing the evidence of the leafcutter bee in our garden which I noticed when I was 'deadheading' this morning. It seems to really love the leaves of the Alnwick rose by the back door, it - or probably it's descendants by now chomps it every year.  |
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I sat and watched them for some time today and noticed that some of the bees going into the hole are a lot bigger than others and make a much louder buzzing noise. I think the hole under the shed was already there because a couple of years ago I spotted a wood mouse going under the shed on several occasions.
I was told this by a bumble bee person.
