Bumblebees under patio doors!

lightisfading

It seems we have a colony of bumblebees living in an air brick just below the patio doors. I don't want to harm them as I know they're in trouble but is there any way to encourage them to move on so we can use our patio doors in the summer? At the moment we have to step out and shut the door quickly behind us or one flies inside within seconds!

Mojisola

Anything you do will harm them. They will move on in late summer but that doesn't help you now.

They very rarely sting but it would be a nuisance getting them out of the house all the time. Could you put up a fly screen for the summer?

Barneysmom

Ignore them and they'll ignore you. I've been out taking pictures of our bees this morning, they're lovely. They're filling up on the laburnum tree, they're so drunk they can't be bothered with anything else than that.

kazwookie

Could a local bee keeper come and move them on for you?

withabix

lightisfading wrote: »

It seems we have a colony of bumblebees living in an air brick just below the patio doors. I don't want to harm them as I know they're in trouble but is there any way to encourage them to move on so we can use our patio doors in the summer? At the moment we have to step out and shut the door quickly behind us or one flies inside within seconds!

They aren't living in the air brick, they're using that to access your wall cavity, where they will have a hive or nest.

Their hives don't look like 'normal' bee hives, they tend to be made up of round 'bubbles' and don't contain much honey, if any.

If you really want rid of them, there is no humane way of doing it really.

THE KILLING METHOD:

I suggest squirting ant powder into your air brick or spray fly spray through the holes.

...and then run, as they will be a bit angry!!

Best to do this late at night when they are dosy/sleeping.

THE BLOCKING METHOD:

Alternatively, tape over the air brick with duck tape in middle of day on a sunny warm day when most of the bees will be out 'at work'. They will move on then.

phead

lightisfading wrote: »

It seems we have a colony of bumblebees living in an air brick just below the patio doors. I don't want to harm them as I know they're in trouble but is there any way to encourage them to move on so we can use our patio doors in the summer? At the moment we have to step out and shut the door quickly behind us or one flies inside within seconds!

Put up a fly screen and enjoy them.

Biggles

lightisfading wrote: »

It seems we have a colony of bumblebees living in an air brick just below the patio doors. I don't want to harm them as I know they're in trouble

I didn't know bumble bees were in trouble; are you sure you aren't thinking of honey bees?

olly300

Biggles wrote: »

I didn't know bumble bees were in trouble; are you sure you aren't thinking of honey bees?

Nope both bumble bees and honey bees are in trouble.

Bumble bees - http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/

Primrose

PLEASE don't harm your bees. All varieties are in dire problems with their number dropping drastically due to as yet undiscovered causes. When you read the prediction that the whole human population will be at risk within three years if the world's bee population dies because there will be no insects to pollinate our fruit and vegetables you realise just how precious every single bee is. I think a fly screen is probably the best solution.

susieb

I got stung by a bumble bee today - both the bumblebee and me are ok tho'

olly300

susieb wrote: »

I got stung by a bumble bee today - both the bumblebee and me are ok tho'

What where you doing?