Bumble relocation?

[sloth]

Hi all

 

For the last 3 or 4 weeks a very large bumblebee has been as busy as a, well a bee, in my garden. Immediately next to my back door is an outdoor toilet which we use as a storage room for my work gear/garden tools/kids toys etc; it seems Mrs B. Bee is coming and going under the door non stop, presumably setting up a home for the summer.

I wouldn't mind but the idea of hundreds of bees living in my 'shed' next to my back door with two young kids doesn't thrill me.

I'm wondering if the wooden bird box I am making with my daughter could be used as a new home. My very loose plan is find the beginnings of the hive, carefully place in said box (with or without bee?) and place elsewhere. Maybe up near the gutter, or bottom of the garden 90ish feet away from the house.

Could it work?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks...

[skyhuck]

I don't think Bumble bee hives contain hundreds, are they not quite small colonies???

[Yorkshire Brummie]

Mmm not sure, moved a bird box with Bees and hive already in situ last summer for a customer. Moved it 100 metres to the end of the garden behind a shed. They seemed happy enough, Cheers ian

[slack ma girdle]

Bumble bees are the quite members of the bee family. Look at it the other way, what a great learning resource for your kids, and it is on your doorstep.

Nature is brilliant.

[forestgough]

Don't think bumbles make much of a nest,nor do they reach great numbers so not much to worry about. I know that's easy for me to say ,also they rarely sting and tend to live in holes.

[Taupotreeman]

Had a few of them make a nest in the wall cavity, access gained through a small hole. I don't think there was more than twenty of them and I used to stand next to the hole and watch them bumble in and out. Made me smile. I think they only nest for a year.id leave em be and just enjoy them being there.

 

 

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[doobin]

They don't make 'hives' as such, they burrow. They'll not bother you in the slightest.

[Jon3012]

I'm a pest controller, there are to many types of bumble bee to make broad statements about how they live but as a general rule expect a type of nest containing a couple of hundred bees. See if you can identify the sort of bee as they maybe rare. If you want to move them wrap your self up well or borrow a bee suit and do it at night. Bird boxes are perfect for a them.

[Jon3012]

Oh and I think the sting hurts more than a wasp.

[sloth]

Cheers all. Using as an educational tool is no problem, kids are naturally inquisitive!

Today I saw a couple of smaller bees coming and going too, a single yellow band around the middle with a white bum. Vary from around 12mm long wirh the original bee being around 20-25mm. Any clue as to species? If I do decide to move them, when/how is best?