British Native Bees

[markwestsussex]

I'm hoping someone can help me.

I have a swarm trap in a tree at the top of my garden that has been very successful in the past.
I have enough hives now but didn't get round to taking it down so wasn't too surprised to see scout bees checking it out yesterday.
I was about to remove it but noticed that the scouts are smaller than my others and very dark. Not completely black, they have a small area of ginger banding across the shoulders.
Is there a chance that they are a strain of native bee? If so I might break my 'no more hive' rule.

Are natives a gentle strain or will I risk having a less than friendly hive in the apiary?

Advice greatly accepted.

 

[oliver90owner]

It might but the probability is very close to zero.

 

[taurus]

I had two swarms recently. One quite yellow who have turned into vicious little monsters and the other almost totally black who are brilliant. I guess the only way to tell is to give them a chance and see how they develop.

 

[For want of a better word]

I had two swarms recently. One quite yellow who have turned into vicious little monsters and the other almost totally black who are brilliant. I guess the only way to tell is to give them a chance and see how they develop.

Similar here in the greatgreygreengreasytamarrivervalleyallsetaboutwithyellownonnativebees...

although we have a greater chance of native or near native bees here than in West Sussex.... the chances of a native or near native colony are getting greater throughout the land.

Good luck
Yeghes da

 

[B+.]

the chances of a native or near native colony are getting greater throughout the land.

You can call them whatever you like, but, the swarms I see aren't fit for purpose. I automatically requeen any I take with my own native carniolans

 

[mbc]

You can call them whatever you like, but, the swarms I see aren't fit for purpose. I automatically requeen any I take with my own native carniolans

I agree but for the fact that a newly swarmed queen is physiologically set up to go for a big push of egg laying to establish a new nest, so I requeen after three or four weeks.

 

[Gaz1]

i wouldn't base anything on colour alone it's more dependent on where you live and what's around. If you don't want a another pass then on to someone sure others will want them!

 

[markwestsussex]

Thanks folks. Very helpful.
Yesterday there was a great deal of interest in the box but by 'ordinary' looking bees rather than the small black ones. Perhaps they were bullied away.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

I was called to a "swarm" of bees a couple of years ago. The bees were very dark and somewhat small but something about the way they flew was not quite right for a honey bee. I managed to catch one and look at it closely and it turned out it was a miner bee. These bees have small nests, generally close to the ground. It may be that what you have is a variety of the many solitary bees.

CVB

 

[markwestsussex]

Charlie, thank you.
When I first saw them I wondered about their shape and posture. Miner bee came to mind but I dismissed the idea given they were at a honey bee trap.
I had a couple hanging around today so have put up two bait hives. I really don't need another colony.....oh, go on then, just ONE more, but these guys have got me interested.
We're due for 30 degrees tomorrow so I fully expect swarming activity. I'll try to take some pictures.