Any knowledgeable bee people ? (1 Viewer)

[Figaro]

These bees have made themselves a comfortable home in my compost bin just as I was planning to empty it.
Anyone know what species and how long they're likely to stick around ?

 

[CWH]

DBK

 

[mikebeaches]

Yes, DBK is your man. (Devon Bee Keeper)

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[Speve]

There is an app in the App Store called Bumble Bee Watch gives a lot of info and pictures of different bees

 

[dunnah01]

They look like Tree bees. They will probably stick around until late July then fly off somewhere

 

[dryad]

bit of a sod as you wanted to empty the bin, but i would just enjoy watching them now and knowing that you're helping the bee population with a cosy home..
they won't be there for ever..
we need every bee we can get for pollination etc, we'd be stuffed without them..

.

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[DBK]

I agree with dunnah01 they look like Tree bumblebees Bombus hypnorum. They only arrived in the UK about 20 years ago but have spread rapidly as they like urban gardens. I think these ones are a dark (Melanic) form. The colony (nest) will die out before winter.

 

[L' Hobo]

I agree with dunnah01 they look like Tree bumblebees Bombus hypnorum. They only arrived in the UK about 20 years ago but have spread rapidly as they like urban gardens. I think these ones are a dark (Melanic) form. The colony (nest) will die out before winter.

The colony may die out but I always thought in my BB colony the Queen remained alive which is why I do not destroy the nest?
Am I wrong??

 

[xsparks]

What you need is apis.

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[DBK]

The colony may die out but I always thought in my BB colony the Queen remained alive which is why I do not destroy the nest?
Am I wrong??

Honey bee colonies over-winter but bumble bee colonies die off. The queens hibernate somewhere sheltered on their own after mating and start new colonies the following spring.