Bumble Bees Nest

[Tiercel 6,986]

tc thanks for posting pics.. they use a waxing to store foods its damn interesting stuff

As I said last year they nested under the shed, in the spring of this year there was one bee in and out of the shed almost all day. I finally tracked it down to an old cloth that was folded and it was coming in and out of the cloth between one of the folds. When I lifted the fold I could see the small balls of what I took to be pollen, even though it seemed powdery it was very sticky.

 

I could not have a nest in such close proximity to where I work and it would be disturbed on a daily basis, so it had to go. My rational was that as the nest was in the very early stages if it was destroyed then, the bees would look for another site to nest.

 

Edited to ask:

 

So if that was a food store would a nest have been built in the same place or would it have just been used as a store with a nest near by?

 

TC

Edited July 6, 2014 by tiercel

[rasp 34]

Here's a tree bee nest I had to remove from a loft this year, it was quite large compared to some?

[unclepesta 101]

tc yours look like the starting of a store so queen can feed her first batch..

 

rasps looks full flow.. like i said these bumble normally produce a larger colony im just about to watch the video thanks for putting this up rasp i like having a look at this sort of stuff.

 

there is always something new to learn or question

[unclepesta 101]

anyone interested in bee research visit IBRA they cover all bee scientific research and have been for a while now.. you can get field guides for bumbles as there are a few types but ibra can answer certain questions for newcomers and such.

 

 

http://www.ibra.org.uk/categories/faq#FAQ_9

[unclepesta 101]

 

Do you get honey from a bumblebee nest, and if so how much?

In the UK the biggest nests are built by Bombus terrestris and according to Sladen in his book even the biggest nests never contain more than a few ounces. In one B. lapidarius nest that he reared in a nest box he took over four ounces of honey and the nest still survived. So yes, in theory we can get honey from bumblebees as it is made by the same method as hive bee honey, but the quantity is so small that it would never be commercially viable to do so. Also, I believes, that it is thinner and more watery than honey bee honey, so ferments more easily. One average sized bumblebee making about ten foraging flights a day would bring back enough nectar to make about 3 ml of honey. But to recover the honey you would have to break into the nest, destroy the honey pot during extraction and probably destroy eggs and young in the process.Bumblebees nests are not neat organized affairs like honey bees nests, they are rather untidy and disorganized.

i thought i would just clarify so we all get the picture.. the bees are always the same but the legislation and new acts of goverments are always changing... im just saying that if you leave a nest of ANY bee treated accessable it runs a risk.. and that risk is that the honeybees can forage off the pollen pots and honey/nectar pots and then contaminate there own stores.

im not trying to be clever i dont know everything about everything im just pointing out so future pesties can draw there own informed conclusion's.

im just interested in all this stuff guy so please dont take offence if i do come accross as having something to say..and please always put me wise if you can. its only been a while i actually started computers but i found hunting life site and i think its great.. so many different people some good all rounders some more specialised its been a a lesson for me just reading some threads so much knowledge.this site has revived certain things for me and i have made contact with some experienced people through this site and its put me on a new path.. again down to legislation and stuff things change and if you dont keep updated on law and acts you run a risk as a pest controller. the animals and insects dont really change they may adapt and evolve over great time so a fox run is just the same as 50 years ago but the legal methods have changed in setts...do you get where im coming from..this go's right accross the board insects birds mams.

bees are in the spotlight make sure your not

 

[Mr Wasp 220]

Unclepesta, can you please show me the legislation, or act of parliament that states a bee nest should be blocked.

[shropshire mole 190]

You normally get about 4 ounces of actual honey in a bumble bee nest, its quite runny not like honey bee honey. its used as a food along with nectar and pollen

 

Bumble bees are cute, generally wont hurt you and are nice to see.

 

EVERYBODY "BEE"" BUMBLE BEE FRIENDLY

[shropshire mole 190]

Mr Wasp,

 

Thank you let me explain what unclepesta was talking about re: blocking nest holes.

 

As a pest controller, I have on occasions "killed off" a honey bee nest which was causing anxiety to the family. The bees were in a window frame near front door accessing this via a hole in the brick work/frame.

 

The bees could not be removed by a bee keeper, or smoked out. So only alternative is to treat with an Insecticidal dust.

 

The hole/bees dusted at dusk and then next morning ALL holes leading to the nest were blocked off to prevent honey bees from other hives smelling the now contaminated honey (insecticide) and robbing the nest of this honey and flying back to their own hives, contaminating this honey with insecticide and killing them off because of the active insecticide they have picked up.

 

The above is from the NPTA National Pest Technicians Association "best practice when dealing with feral bee destruction"

 

 

Hope this helps and clarifies situations

 

ps. if the above is not carried out and other bee hives in a 3 mile radius die, And is investigated and your found out to be at fault, you will be in court having to defend your actions (or lack of them)

[Matt 160]

Mr Wasp,

 

Thank you let me explain what unclepesta was talking about re: blocking nest holes.

 

As a pest controller, I have on occasions "killed off" a honey bee nest which was causing anxiety to the family. The bees were in a window frame near front door accessing this via a hole in the brick work/frame.

 

The bees could not be removed by a bee keeper, or smoked out. So only alternative is to treat with an Insecticidal dust.

 

The hole/bees dusted at dusk and then next morning ALL holes leading to the nest were blocked off to prevent honey bees from other hives smelling the now contaminated honey (insecticide) and robbing the nest of this honey and flying back to their own hives, contaminating this honey with insecticide and killing them off because of the active insecticide they have picked up.

 

The above is from the NPTA National Pest Technicians Association "best practice when dealing with feral bee destruction"

 

 

Hope this helps and clarifies situations

 

ps. if the above is not carried out and other bee hives in a 3 mile radius die, And is investigated and your found out to be at fault, you will be in court having to defend your actions (or lack of them)

 

All very well and good if the product you've chosen to use states that you have to 'block', but it doesn't really answer the question posed by Mr Wasp.

 

Contrary to popular belief, the NPTA don't make the laws of this land, nor do they represent all pest controllers

[unclepesta 101]

shropshire mole i just done one like it and a outside wall one too good man for blocking it.

 

mr wasp npta are not any law or anything i never mentioned npta.. i dont treat to npta im better ha ha.

 

no seriously there is no law thats the point.. its a trap in itself.

 

npta wont take you to court but prosecutors of a case against you may use a advisors connected to npta bpca which are trade bodys listened to and listening to big gov. you need to lay off the puffer pack..im trying to help.

 

i dont agree with all the bull that npta ect cause im just saying do a safe treatment.

[unclepesta 101]

matt not contrary to my belief

[unclepesta 101]

here is one councils page and opinion im sure most are like it

 

http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/431/pest_control/328/pests/10

 

 

they percieve risk in contamination...do you wanna argue it in court?

 

you wouldnt stand a chance especially now its guilty until proven innocent..

 

i dont think shropshire was saying its law but pointing out that the big brother is saying this is how to do it.. in court little one man ops get crushed..dont go there ffs your playing with fire... just do a safe treatment and if you cant pass it on to someone who can

[shropshire mole 190]

Matt,

 

Did I mention NPTA making laws, No I did not

 

And No the product I use does not mention blocking holes, but then it does not say "you cant wash your hair with it" Got to draw the line somewhere.

 

If your going to be a professional pest controller then you need to take note of what others, ie NPTA, BPCA, DEFRA, HSE suggest best practice is.

 

You could always test the system?, not block any holes tell the authorities what you have done, sit back and await their response.

Edited July 7, 2014 by shropshire mole

[StephenWalsh 73]

 

Fine For Pesticide Misuse

At Sheffield Magistrates Court on 12th March 2008 Mr John Allison pleaded guilty to four offences of not taking all reasonable precautions in using an insecticide containing bendiocarb. He was fined £200 for each offence and a further £200 towards costs.

Following an investigation into the deaths of thousands of honey bees, carried out under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) by Defra and Natural England Mr Allison was charged that he:

• had failed to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants;

was not competent in the use of the product;

had not had the necessary training or instruction; and

had failed to use the required safety clothing and eye protection.

The case was investigated under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) following the discovery of thousands of dead bees by a beekeeper. Analysis of the dead bees showed they had died from exposure to bendiocarb.

Mr Allison had used a bendiocarb containing insecticide 'Ficam D' to kill feral bees nesting in a tree. However Mr Allison had not notified local beekeepers about the application prior to treatment and bees belonging to local beekeepers had accessed the treated area and had died.

The court was told that the manner of the operation was "a good example of how not to carry out a pest control treatment". In particular Mr Allison, had at the time had no training, had not carried out a risk assessment, did not wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and used the wrong application method during windy conditions. As a consequence the product was blown into the surrounding area and all over Mr Allison.

It is the legal duty of anyone using pesticides in the course of their business to be trained in the safe use, including preventing risks of non-target creatures, and preventing exposure of humans.

Therefore, it is important to utilise the services of a professional pest control company when attempting to eradicate a specific localised population of insects through the use of pesticides.

Qualified technicians operating within the pest control industry have been trained in the use of pest control products and know which ones to use in specific circumstances. Of course, when hiring the services of a pest control company, you should always check that they have gained the appropriate certification from either the BPCA or the NPTC.

[StephenWalsh 73]

The law doesn't say "block". It says that you need to take reasonable precautions to protect non targets. And if you have the proper training and experience, you would know this, hence what this chap got charged with.