Found bee nest nearby in the ground

[Etton]

Have discovered bees 50m from my hives going into what looks like a mouse hole. Definitely bees have pollen on legs but not many of them. Could they be a threat to my colony, should I destroy?

 

[snelgrove]

Have discovered bees 50m from my hives going into what looks like a mouse hole. Definitely bees have pollen on legs but not many of them. Could they be a threat to my colony, should I destroy?

Bumble bees or solitary bees, leave them alone
and definitely do not destroy! !!!

 

[Fatbee]

Well said Snelgrove. Etton - if you keep strong colonies in secure boxes they should be well protected from other fauna. Beekeepers killing other types of bees is not a road to go down. Killing wasps is only supported by most members of the public because they don't understand the role they play. Every creature has it's role.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Could they be a threat to my colony, should I destroy?

I think destroying a colony just because bumble bees have moved in next door is an over-reaction.

PLEASE do not destroy anything and read up a bit. Here is a good place to start, as part of the site generally

http://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/habitats/bumblebee-nests

 

[madasafish]

Badgers round here would destroy it free.

 

[Etton]

Like most bee keepers I really would hate to destroy any creature (food excluded!) just worried that they could become robbers so close to my hives. They are bees not bumble bees, with pollen on leg.... I'll keep a close watch

 

[kazmcc]

Like most bee keepers I really would hate to destroy any creature (food excluded!) just worried that they could become robbers so close to my hives. They are bees not bumble bees, with pollen on leg.... I'll keep a close watch

Solitary bees. They won't bother your hives. Enjoy them! Do you have any pictures?

 

[Millet]

Like most bee keepers I really would hate to destroy any creature (food excluded!) just worried that they could become robbers so close to my hives. They are bees not bumble bees, with pollen on leg.... I'll keep a close watch

Some species of solitary bee look like a honey bee and have orange patches on there back legs that look like pollen but it is not.

 

[chrisb]

have bumble bees 16 foot away in compost bin. Blimey can they collect pollen

 

[chrisb]

forgot to say a large bumble bee colony is only about 400 bees,

 

[BeeJayBee]

Have discovered bees 50m from my hives going into what looks like a mouse hole. Definitely bees have pollen on legs but not many of them. Could they be a threat to my colony, should I destroy?

Lots of bees other than honey bees carry pollen on their legs, and none of these other bees are likely to be a threat to your honey bees. They co-exist in the wild, so there's no reason for them not to live alongside each other in your apiary.

 

[kazmcc]

Post a pic and I'll tell you what they are. If I can't identify it, I'll send it to a couple of friends

 

[GoEnviro]

any idea if they were boys or girls?