Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

chris_m

I think I'll have to dig out my Rimsky-Korsakov MP3s, whilst my raspberries are being pollinated. They should get done well this year, since it appears that a Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) queen has decided that a nest box about three feet from the patch would be ideal. It certainly is from a food availability point of view.

I am slightly surprised, though, because the nest box in question is south-facing and completely unshaded so I'd have thought it would be too hot for them - probably explains why there's a gang of them clustered around the entrance hole beating their wings, I assume to try and cool it down a tad.

I thought there was rather a loud buzzing noise from the raspberry patch when I couldn't see a large number of bees amongst the canes, now I know why.

Pyxis

chris_m wrote: »

I think I'll have to dig out my Rimsky-Korsakov MP3s, whilst my raspberries are being pollinated. They should get done well this year, since it appears that a Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) queen has decided that a nest box about three feet from the patch would be ideal. It certainly is from a food availability point of view.

I am slightly surprised, though, because the nest box in question is south-facing and completely unshaded so I'd have thought it would be too hot for them - probably explains why there's a gang of them clustered around the entrance hole beating their wings, I assume to try and cool it down a tad.

I thought there was rather a loud buzzing noise from the raspberry patch when I couldn't see a large number of bees amongst the canes, now I know why.

How lovely!
Bumblybees are great.

Another fascinating one is the leaf-cutter bee.


Somebody on another thread mentioned how she lifted a slab, to find an ants nest underneath, and then spent several minutes watching the ants move the eggs back down underground. That is fascinating too!

All these tiny wee creatures bustling about ! Ain't nature wunnerful!



Just a thought....... do bumblybees like listening to orchestral reproductions of their flight sound? They might sue for copyright!

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

Somebody on another thread mentioned how she lifted a slab, to find an ants nest underneath, and then spent several minutes watching the ants move the eggs back down underground. That is fascinating too!

I've always been fascinated by the way they bring out their dead.

If there's an ants nest I'll use a kettle of boiling water on them - if you do this on a patio then the next morning all the cracks where you poured the water are littered with the dead ants that've been hauled out!

Percy1983

Turned the TV off and got in the garden with Jenson, I have discovered a problem with a fearless child, he tried to play with the bees (ie grab them).

Funny as I am not scared of them and he clearly isn't but the wife is terrified.

Pyxis

Percy1983 wrote: »

Turned the TV off and got in the garden with Jenson, I have discovered a problem with a fearless child, he tried to play with the bees (ie grab them).

Funny as I am not scared of them and he clearly isn't but the wife is terrified.

Most bees are relatively docile. Honey bees aren't as they're programmed to defend.
However, bumblebees are only likely to sting if they are really cornered, i.e. grabbed. If they are just buzzing about, they won't make a beeline for you and start stinging.

Honeybees will die in the attempt. Bumblebees do not die when they have used their sting.

GDB2222

Pyxis wrote: »

Most bees are relatively docile. Honey bees aren't as they're programmed to defend.
However, bumblebees are only likely to sting if they are really cornered, i.e. grabbed. If they are just buzzing about, they won't make a beeline for you and start stinging.

Honeybees will die in the attempt. Bumblebees do not die when they have used their sting.

How do I tell one from the other, please?

CKhalvashi

GDB2222 wrote: »

How do I tell one from the other, please?

That's an interesting question I never realised I wanted to know the answer to.

Here is the answer

https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/faqs/honeybees-vs-bumblebees/

chris_m

GDB2222 wrote: »

How do I tell one from the other, please?

Bumbles are generally bigger and usually don't sting unless really provoked. If they do, the sting is unbarbed so they can have another go, unlike honey bees which die if they sting because the sting is ripped out of them either by their escaping or the target swiping them off.

Don't know about all the bumble species but if you have a lot of Tree Bumbles buzzing around the nest entrance they are generally males hoping that a virgin queen will be coming out so they can have their way with her - and they not only don't but can't sting.

Pyxis

GDB2222 wrote: »

How do I tell one from the other, please?

Well, a lot of bumble bees are hairy. Not all though. The bigger hairy ones are bumblies.

Honey bees are smaller and look smooth. However, other bees can look like them too. There are also some bee mimics which aren't bees but wasps, and other bee mimics which are really flies.

Got all that?



Tell you what....... I'll go and get some pics.......

Pyxis

NB: NOT TO SCALE!



Honey bees. These can be aggressive, more often than not if you are near the hive and acting threateningly.






A bumble bee, with pollen sac 'trousers'. They won't hurt you unless you hurt them.
There are buff-tailed ones, yellow-tailed,ones, and red-tailed ones. Some are quite rare. Please don't kill them.







Bee mimic fly.
(The eyes are more fly-like). They don't sting. Their appearance is a defence.










A true wasp. Note the very definite yellow markings.









There are also those hoverflies that people go berserk about. They are a bit stripey, but they don't buzz and they hover a lot. They are absolutely harmless, as they are just a type of fly.