Bees taking over one bush - advice?

JeffMason

Hi All,

Over the past couple of days I've had a large amount of bees suddenly appear on a bush outside my back door. I've only just moved into this house so have no idea if this is a regualr thing or a random one off. The bush is very close to my only back door and I can't now keep it open for more than a few seconds as they start to fly inside.

Any ideas on what kind of bees they are (see photos - there seem to be two different types, or is one wasps, I'm not sure) and what I can do about it?

https://imgur.com/a/A6svWOm

I wonder if this is just a feeding frenzy and I just need to put up with it for a few days, or if this is going to a longer problem. Advice welcome as I'm kind of freaking out, and frustrated that I can't open the back door when it's so very hot outside!

Thanks.

Sky_

It's a ceanothus (or Californian Lilac) and they have a lot of nectar, so bees will visit to harvest the nectar.  I have one in my garden which has been covered in bees, but they're leaving now that the flowers are starting to fade.  They're not usually aggressive--I often sit right next to my ceanothus and have never had any problems with the visiting insects.

In your picture it looks like a bumble bee and a honey bee, but the flowers are starting to fade a little so the bees should leave soon.

JeffMason

Sky_ said:

It's a ceanothus (or Californian Lilac) and they have a lot of nectar, so bees will visit to harvest the nectar.  I have one in my garden which has been covered in bees, but they're leaving now that the flowers are starting to fade.  They're not usually aggressive--I often sit right next to my ceanothus and have never had any problems with the visiting insects.

In your picture it looks like a bumble bee and a honey bee, but the flowers are starting to fade a little so the bees should leave soon.

Thank you so much! There are so many of them (some of both, but I've noticed more bumblebees) and they are there first thing (I was out there at 7am) and still going strong at 8:30pm last night. I hope they are done soon!

tower

We’ve had a few comments on my local Facebook page about bee’s. Most will move on, but if you’re concerned(young children/ by front door etc) contact a local bee keeper who will be able to re-home them.

JeffMason

tower said:

We’ve had a few comments on my local Facebook page about bee’s. Most will move on, but if you’re concerned(young children/ by front door etc) contact a local bee keeper who will be able to re-home them.

I'm not sure if they live in the bush though (or nearby) or are just visiting because it's good food! And I didn't think bee keepers would do anything about bumblebees..?

Sky_

JeffMason said:

Sky_ said:

It's a ceanothus (or Californian Lilac) and they have a lot of nectar, so bees will visit to harvest the nectar.  I have one in my garden which has been covered in bees, but they're leaving now that the flowers are starting to fade.  They're not usually aggressive--I often sit right next to my ceanothus and have never had any problems with the visiting insects.

In your picture it looks like a bumble bee and a honey bee, but the flowers are starting to fade a little so the bees should leave soon.

Thank you so much! There are so many of them (some of both, but I've noticed more bumblebees) and they are there first thing (I was out there at 7am) and still going strong at 8:30pm last night. I hope they are done soon!

You're welcome, I hope they're done soon too, for your sake. 

It's a beautiful shrub, but if it's anything like mine it will flower for several weeks each May and June, so you might consider replacing it with something else before next spring, if the bees bother you a lot.  

twopenny

Oh wow that is a stunning plant! I was going to suggest moving it or taking cuttings but that is one lovely bit of garden.

You could do a couple of things to help that I can think off from the top of my head.

Either trim the flowers off the side and a bit of the front near your door or use a fly screen across your door.

You can get black mesh which is very effective but annoying - fringe ones in various colours which I use because they are easy to put up when needed (string curtain panels for a search and you thread through a spring loaded rod that will fit your door. Just a tweek to remove and store it) - my neighbour has a fine cotton voile used in the same way.

Now I'm wondering what is drawing them in or around the door which isn't that close. I have lavender bushes near the front door, wallflowers and all sorts that have bees at the back and patio doors but rarely have them in unless they are lost looking for a way out.

JeffMason

twopenny said:

Oh wow that is a stunning plant! I was going to suggest moving it or taking cuttings but that is one lovely bit of garden.

You could do a couple of things to help that I can think off from the top of my head.

Either trim the flowers off the side and a bit of the front near your door or use a fly screen across your door.

You can get black mesh which is very effective but annoying - fringe ones in various colours which I use because they are easy to put up when needed (string curtain panels for a search and you thread through a spring loaded rod that will fit your door. Just a tweek to remove and store it) - my neighbour has a fine cotton voile used in the same way.

Now I'm wondering what is drawing them in or around the door which isn't that close. I have lavender bushes near the front door, wallflowers and all sorts that have bees at the back and patio doors but rarely have them in unless they are lost looking for a way out.

I think it's a bit closer than it looks from the photo, that one is taken from inside the door for starters, and I wanted to get far enough back to see the whole thing. There are at least five or six bumblebees caught up in a spiders web on a drainpipe next to the patio doors too...

I will definitely do some serious trimming when I get the opportunity, and look into options for moving and replacement of it. It's just not the right spot so close to the house...

RAS

Bumble bees don't sting, at least not unless you trap them in elbow, when they will give you a prod to let them free. They and the honey bees are after the nectar, which lasts a few days only and its so hot at the moment they are flying long days.  Honey bees generally only sting when threatened as it's fatal to them.

Given the weather, do you have other doors and windows open? As that can create a through draft that wafts the bees into the house. I'm not opening the bathroom window right now for that reason.

JeffMason

RAS said:

Bumble bees don't sting, at least not unless you trap them in elbow, when they will give you a prod to let them free. They and the honey bees are after the nectar, which lasts a few days only and its so hot at the moment they are flying long days.  Honey bees generally only sting when threatened as it's fatal to them.

Given the weather, do you have other doors and windows open? As that can create a through draft that wafts the bees into the house. I'm not opening the bathroom window right now for that reason.

Nothing is open since they started showing up.. and it's a little warm inside... I really think it's just so close to where they are hanging out and there are so many that a few will just take a wrong turn and get into the house if the door is open...

I'm hoping you're right about the nectar only lasting a few days... I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens over the next day or two...

Thanks!

twopenny

I may be biased because I'd have been thrilled with that border as a starting point when i moved into my stoney barren place and hd to start from scratch.
Think carefully because it's either hard work or expensive to redo a garden.
The last owner must have lived happily with it. I have bees really close to all my doors. The bees don't sting unless taunted or fearful.
RAS that's interesting. I'd not heard or thought of that.