Hony Bee Invasion

[Johnoconnor]

Hi Guys, I live in shawclough Rochdale Lancashire and think we have the start of a honey bee set up. I have noticed bees entering the roff space of a single story extention. I am looking for help or suggestions on how to remove them, I would prefare to have them removed rather than use a fumigation service.

Really looking for advice. Ta Guys

John

 

[flytrapman]

Hi Guys, I live in shawclough Rochdale Lancashire and think we have the start of a honey bee set up. I have noticed bees entering the roff space of a single story extention. I am looking for help or suggestions on how to remove them, I would prefare to have them removed rather than use a fumigation service.

Really looking for advice. Ta Guys

John

Could well behind the facia board.. It will more than likely involve a cut out.. the sooner it's done is the easiest

 

[Johnoconnor]

Bee invasion

Thanks for the promp reply, They seem to be entering under the flat roof but exiting under the peaked tiled roof. Really looking for help or suggestions for removing them without using a firm that employs insectercide, they deserve to survive Cheers

 

[itma]

First thing is to be certain of the identification, honeybee or bumblebee.

The "tree bumblebee" (bombus hypnorum - google it for more info) absolutely loves fascia boards. It only has a smallish colony and will be gone in a couple of months.
It is responsible for more "Swarm!" phonecalls than all other types of bee (including honeybees) put together!

 

[enrico]

As stated, find out what they are. If they are honey bees then find the address of your local beekeepers association off google. Ask if they have anyone that specialises in getting bees out of roofs. It isn't an easy job but it needs doing as soon as possible. They build lots of comb quickly. If the worst comes to the worst you may need to get them disposed of but to be honest nothing is impossible if you are prepared to have a few tiles etc removed. Check your house insurance to see if they will cover any repairs necessary.
Someone from Rochdale are may still volunteer from this site so keep an eye on this thread for a couple of days. As beekeepers we appreciate your time in asking so let's hope you get some answers and help
E

 

[YorkshireBees]

I have had 150+ calls for bees around rooflines in the last 2 weeks.

Quite easy to determine what bees they are.

How many bees can you see around the roofline at anyone time?
If it's 6-20 then they are probably bumblebees.

Are the majority of the bees you are seeing just 'dancing' about around the entrance?
These are male bumblebees waiting for the new queen to come out for mating.

Finally if you watch long enough you will see some bees are larger than the rest. Again an indication of bumblebees.

Final point I noticed you said "think we have the start of a honey bee set up" well honey bees arrive in a swarm of approx 2000-1000 bees so you will really know when a swarm arrives!

 

[Johnoconnor]

Thanks for the reply and the suggestion

Regards John

 

[Johnoconnor]

Great information for a norther numbie lol, never seen mor that 4 - 6 aroundthe entrance, I guessed they were honey bees only because they were small, about the size of a wasp, but definatley bees

Cheers John

 

[YorkshireBees]

Great information for a norther numbie lol, never seen mor that 4 - 6 aroundthe entrance, I guessed they were honey bees only because they were small, about the size of a wasp, but definatley bees

Cheers John

The males buzzing round the entrance are a lot smaller than the Queens.

 

[Barbarian]

Have a look on the ground under where the bees are.
You may find one or two dead Tree Bumbles. They have a tawny thorax and a white tail.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has a video showing Tree Bumbles near a nest, Search under bumblebeeconservation.

 

[derekm]

I have had 150+ calls for bees around rooflines in the last 2 weeks.

Quite easy to determine what bees they are.

How many bees can you see around the roofline at anyone time?
If it's 6-20 then they are probably bumblebees.

Are the majority of the bees you are seeing just 'dancing' about around the entrance?
These are male bumblebees waiting for the new queen to come out for mating.

Finally if you watch long enough you will see some bees are larger than the rest. Again an indication of bumblebees.

Final point I noticed you said "think we have the start of a honey bee set up" well honey bees arrive in a swarm of approx 2000-1000 bees so you will really know when a swarm arrives!

add a zer0 to those numbers 10 honey bees to the gram 10,000 to the kilogram

 

[kazmcc]

First thing is to be certain of the identification, honeybee or bumblebee.

The "tree bumblebee" (bombus hypnorum - google it for more info) absolutely loves fascia boards. It only has a smallish colony and will be gone in a couple of months.
It is responsible for more "Swarm!" phonecalls than all other types of bee (including honeybees) put together!

itma has it spot on. Most people who are only just noticing they have bees in their roof, are most likely tree bumbles. They will have been there since early spring, the only reason you have noticed them now is because new queens are now present in the nest and males are starting to hover around the entrances.

This means the nest is coming to the end of it's life cycle. Most tree bumble nests are done by the end of July. They have small nests, so do no damage to your building, and they don't make honey the same way as honey bees, so you will have no honey left up there to cause problems, but if you don't want another queen to make use of the old nest, then wait for about 3 weeks after you see the last bumble, then block it up. Tree bumbles go on to have second nests, so one may very well reuse the old one.

Enjoy your bumbles!