Angry bees in bird box.

[Graham K]

I have just found (the hard way) a colony of Bumble bees in one of the nest boxes out in the garden. They are small, black, fast and very angry when disturbed.

I've checked with the local bee collecting "bod" and he confirmed them as bumbles as there are no where near enough of them to be honey bees (shame!).

Problem; as much as I like bees and would love to have a hive of my own someday, these guys are very much in the way and pose a serious risk to my five year old. Advice from "bee bod" was to leave alone and they may move on in "a few months", unfortunatly this is not an option.

Does anyone have any idea how to move them (safely) to another spot in the garden where they won't be such a risk? Bee bod said to do it at night when they are resting and to move the nest box complete, this I can just about do without breaking the nest box.

Any advice most welcome, Graham.

[vicky]

I've never moved bumbles before but have moved a honeybee hive. At night armed with a torch and some sort of protective veil I stuffed the box entrance with dry grass. The next morning I moved the hive to the new spot and left the grass in the entrance - the idea is by the time they've removed the grass they have grown used to the new spot and will return there. I found a few returned to the old hive site so you'd have to watch out for that.
Could you borrow a suit/veil from the bee club? Good luck, let us know how you get on!

[Two_Sheds]

these guys ... pose a serious risk to my five year old.

No they don't.

Bumbles rarely sting, unless you actively annoy them.

We had the same thing in the school playground last year: complete PANIC !!! until I walked over calmly, picked up the box (I just had gloves for splinters, no veil, no spacesuit) and slowly removed it to a safer spot (safer for the bees that is).

We then sat closely and observed the bees coming and going for several days: red tailed bee nest - YouTube

[Graham K]

I'm pretty sure these are/were not your common or garden leave us alone and we'll do the same type of B bees. They actually chased me round the garden, full on we'll have you if we catch you stuff! Not the usual behaviour from the buzzy things.

Anyhow problem "may" have resolved itself. Just got in from work and the nest box is in bits on the path, no it wasn't me, will investigate in a mo' and see what's happening.

[Two_Sheds]

They actually chased me round the garden

They tend to stick to a certain flight path ~ you may well have got in that flight path and peed them off

It'd be a shame if they've been smashed up. I just don't think it's a good lesson for children: if something bothers you, just kill it

[di]

I agree, Bumbles aren't a danger....I do get the odd one 'chase' me, or rather fly round and round my head. I think the colour of my hair attracts them? Never been stung by one though. (except when I was little and one flew into my mouth and must have felt a little scared )

[Graham K]

An update; Damage to nest box was pretty terminal, if you are a bird, but not too bad for the buzzy ones. It was a cheap painted job from ASDA a few years back made of plywood and the layers on the back have come apart which is why it ended up on the floor.

Enough of it has survived to continue as a "bumble house" for now, and they were all still inside on the floor and still mad as hell (the hard way again). With the aid of a glass to cover the hole and a bit of cardboard to make sure the rest of the nest box stayed intact, said bumbles have been relocated to a safer spot in the garden. All seem happy and the blue tit has even returned to the other nest box that was "next door".

Now I wonder, when do the honey bees will turn up?

[Two_Sheds]

Graham, you've made my day