Bumble bees /pipe identification-?

Courteous

Hi folks,
can anyone identify what this pipe (the white hole bit) coming out of the house is please? 
I’ve seen bumble bees all today going in and out of if (including what I think is a queen). 

I don’t know if it’s ok to just leave them be(e) as I’m not sure what the pipe is for, where it goes and whether there might be safety issues with having bees nesting in there. I’m not at all concerned about being stung, I mean more to do with what the pipe is linked to. 
Thanks. 

Grenage

Overflow for a water tank in the loft? Looks a bit bigger than would normally be used.  Less of an issue if you no longer use or have a tank.  Looks like that pipe has moved some since it was first installed.

shiraz99

As above, looks like an overflow to me. As far as the bees are concerned they're likely just tree bumblebees which are completely harmless and will be gone in a month or so time.

Courteous

Thanks Grenage. I’m curious, what makes you feel it’s been moved since first installed?

Landlord is going to call pest control for advice. Quite upset at the thought of them being killed if that’s actually not necessary so fingers crossed it’s not, and the contractor agrees. 

Courteous

Thanks Shiraz. I’ve real guilt right and concern right now so hoping hard that it’s ok and the contractor won’t just say they need terminated, ugh.    

grumbler

It's been moved because of the silicone.

It's surprisingly short outside. If it's disused and cut both inside and outside, then bumblebees use it just as an access to the loft.

shiraz99

Courteous said:

Thanks Grenage. I’m curious, what makes you feel it’s been moved since first installed?

Landlord is going to call pest control for advice. Quite upset at the thought of them being killed if that’s actually not necessary so fingers crossed it’s not, and the contractor agrees. 

The pipe has had silicone put round it at some point and has since moved outwards.

Courteous

Thanks grumbler, that’s interesting. I hadn’t thought about the pipe being cut off on the other side too. 

 Thinking on it now I’ve never seen them til today, and if I’m right the very large bee I’ve seen is a queen (how fitting for the jubilee…) then I think that means there won’t be a nest yet. If the pipe is cut off on both sides then a loft would seem a good spot to settle in, dry dark and undisturbed.  

I was having cartoonish visions of them moving through the plumbing somehow turning on a tap and bees flying out. Though now having visions of the pest control guy coming to look in the loft and the entire ceiling is nest (like in Aliens). 

Thanks for your comments. 

kdotdotdotdot

Assuming the pipe isn't used any more, would it be worth blocking it to stop the bees coming in?  I was thinking something like a cut-off foot from a pair of tights, tightly fastened around the end with a rubber band.  It only needs to be a temporary fix.  

 I'm all for nurturing bees, but I also understand you're not really going to want a nest in the loft.  

Keep_pedalling

kdotdotdotdot said:

Assuming the pipe isn't used any more, would it be worth blocking it to stop the bees coming in?  I was thinking something like a cut-off foot from a pair of tights, tightly fastened around the end with a rubber band.  It only needs to be a temporary fix.  

 I'm all for nurturing bees, but I also understand you're not really going to want a nest in the loft.  

Just leave them alone they cause no harm and we need every pollinator we can get.

kev25v6

I’ve got them in my roof too, noticed them last night around the window. I was going to leave them there like I did at my last house as they leave pretty quickly. Only problem is my fascia board has now slid out below them and needs fixing right where they are.