need advice fast - may have found a swarm

[beesleybees]

Hi guys,

a mate of mine is convinced he has a mas of bees in his loft space. He thought they were wasps but says they are definatley not wasps.

I am a fairly new bee keeper and have never collected a swarm. If they are honey bees what is the best way to collect them? what equipment do i need??

 

[Andre cardona]

a bee vac would be good how long have they been there you mite need to do a cut out good luck

 

[viridens]

Hi guys,

a mate of mine is convinced he has a mas of bees in his loft space. He thought they were wasps but says they are definatley not wasps.

I am a fairly new bee keeper and have never collected a swarm. If they are honey bees what is the best way to collect them? what equipment do i need??

Go and have a look. IF they are honeybees they will have moved in there after initial swarming and will be nestbuilding & not likely to go anywhere in a hurry. And don't be afraid to seek help or walk away if not confident!

 

[MuswellMetro]

agree

report back, if they are honey bees, a photo might be better to give advise



1) no comb built, just a box to smoke them up into (easy)

2) Comb built then a cut out and stick the brood comb into frames with rubber bands and then into a Nuc box ( nasty)

or a bee vac ( well i dont have one)

 

[beeboybee]

shout if you want some help.....

 

[beesleybees]

thanx for all the replies guys but on inspection they wasnt honey bees.

The are like small versions of big bumble bees! excuse my ignorance to the species

Anyhow, would still like some advice if you can offer it.

They have built there comb in the centre of the insulation in the loft. I got up with the intention off putting the piece of insulation in a duvet cover but its attatch to quite a long piece with no access really to cut it. I was worried I wouldnt get it in the bag in time and would get stung to death as a quick exit from the loft would be impossible.

any idea how I can do this? I dont want to kill them but If thats the only way to ensure a safe removal then that will have to be it. Just a question but would the wasp nest destroyer work??

 

[oliver90owner]

Why remove them at all? Seems that if they are building their nest (bumbles don't store honey in combs) the loft space is not being used.

I would advise closing the loft access door and leaving them to get on with life. They will be gone forever in just a few weeks, are not a pest and certainly not dangerous, if allowed to cohabit peacefully in the house for a couple of months or so.

RAB

 

[hedgerow pete]

i agree with oliver90oliver, leave them alone.

if needed fly spray will kill them off or nippon on the outside of the entrance hole.

as a beginer i would strongly advise to leave doing cut outs for another year, they are hard hot, painfull and very very unworth the money you can charge, if you do get offered to do one take a ***** sorry mentor to do it and you can watch him struggle

 

[darren64]

I don't think I could ever kill a bumble bee nest,it just seems wrong somehow.

 

[richardbees]

I guarantee that they are "buff-tailed bumblebees" and new bees are much smaller than adults. Just leave them alone as they are totally non aggressive and much less dangerous than the friendliest Golden Labrador!

Tell the householder they'll die off in late Autumn.

 

[beesleybees]

thanx for the replies guys!

he thought they were wasps at first so I told him to get someone in to remove it. He then phoned mt to say they were not wasps but bees so I got all excited and went around only to find they are the wrong type of bee.

He still doesnt want them in there but I will till what you guys have told me and see if he will let them be (no pun intended)

Im not getting paid or anything to do this, just wanted to help a friend out but I now would like to leave them alone. Lets hope he does too

thanx again

 

[beeatshellards]

If they are buff tailed bumble bees and you do destroy it make sure you block the entrance or robbing by other bees may occur. I too would leave well alone, they will be gone by autumn anyway. A good way to identify them is to use a torch with a red film over it, catch one in a fishing net that children use and use a website on bumblebees for id that way you will be sure what type of bee you are dealing with

 

[Jeff Buzz]

I guarantee that they are "buff-tailed bumblebees" and new bees are much smaller than adults. Just leave them alone as they are totally non aggressive and much less dangerous than the friendliest Golden Labrador!

Tell the householder they'll die off in late Autumn.