Advice re other bees

[Levitt53]

Hi, a friend called me today as her husband had found a nest of bees in his compost heap when he put his fork through it - ow! I went and had a look and they are obvious not honey bees, probably somewhere between that size and the big bumbles. He's happy to leave them alone for now. They are obviously fairly established as he hasn't disturbed the heap yet this year. They seem to have recovered from his disruption. I said I'd find out what they are likely to do in the long run as although he is happy to leave them for now I don't think he want to give up his compost heap for ever. Does anyone know? Thanks

 

[snelgrove]

Bumble bees leave them alone, they will die out in the autumn after they raise queens and drones. These mated queens hibernate and start again next spring. The old colony dies out.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

ditto

 

[BeeJayBee]

Hi, a friend called me today as her husband had found a nest of bees in his compost heap when he put his fork through it - ow! I went and had a look and they are obvious not honey bees, probably somewhere between that size and the big bumbles.
.... I said I'd find out what they are likely to do in the long run as although he is happy to leave them for now I don't think he want to give up his compost heap for ever. Does anyone know? Thanks

Try this page from the Bumblebee Trust
https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/habitats/bumblebee-nests/

 

[Levitt53]

That's great thanks. I've passed all that information on.