Iv'e destroyed a bumble bee's nest.

[cheops]

At the weekend I decided to clear out a small outhouse located at the beginning of our garden near to the house. It used to be the outside toilet I presume. It had been filling up over the last couple of years with both rubbish and garden things to the point where it was difficult to find things. As I lifted the various things out and was coming to near the floor I pulled out an old black plastic bag which was detoriating and had been chewed a lot into small bits. As I lifted it out I realised to my horror that inside the old crumpled bag was a bumble bee's hive or nest - not sure what you call it. Bees started flying around and the small mass of a hive about the size of your fist fell to the ground. I was devastated to realise what I had done - I know how scarce bumble bees are now and only weeks before I was reading online what I could to do help start a queen bumble bee begin a hive in my garden - not knowing I already had one. Then I saw the queen on the ground. I quickly lifted the nest and put it under the garden shed and lifted the queen and let her walk onto the hive which she did. Other bees were still holding onto the hive but the majority of the bees were flying around the original location and I felt so unhappy for them. Will the hive survive or have I destroyed the home of these scarce creatures and doomed the queen and the bees to a death? I'm so hoping the queen and the few workers will be able to carry on in their new location.

[Olorin2001]

One of my friends was clearing out a shed and did much the same, he put the queen and nest remains into a dolls house and left it as close to the original nest site as possible, they accepted this re-housing. I think location was the key, as close as posible to the old site and whatever box or container is available. This was a few years ago and he still get stick for overkill with the dolls house, but he said there wasn't anything else. Don't forget to have a hole in the box/container, or leave the door open if you too have a spare dolls house.

[cheops]

Thx for your input. I just put the nest under the shed so I'm gonna go now and put it in a box [with a hole]. I feel so guilty.

[marchogaeth]

From what I have just read in Dave Goulson's book, they should re locate. The queen is the key but the workers will take time to re-orientate. If you catch any it's probably worth putting them in the nest entrance. Try to have the entrance pointing in the same direction.

Please let us know what happens.

[darcyvuqua]

Firstly I think you have been hard on yourself it not as if you set out to destroy the hive or hurt the bees plain and simple accident!

I watched a programme on tv just the other night saying bees will accept the hive being moved a few feet or a few miles but not a few yards/meters as it confuses them so if you have kept them close they should be fine


Good luck

[Sheneval]

Thx for your input. I just put the nest under the shed so I'm gonna go now and put it in a box [with a hole]. I feel so guilty.

Think you did very well and the best you could do after an unfortunate accident for which no blame can be attached to you. Could have happened to anyone and they might not have had your presence of mind - hope it works out ok.

[cheops]

Thank you all and everyone for info and input. The latest news is the nest is there with the queen resting on it but there not seem to be any bees flying back and forth. I know very little but I'm guessing the 'flying' bees don't know where the nest [God only knows where they have gone] and the queen is attending the nest awaiting new bees to hatch.??? Maybe that is wishful thinking - perhaps the grubs need fed and she can't do it so all is doomed. Just don't know. What I do know is I'll try and make up for it by putting potential nest sites around the garden next late winter/spring in the hope I can enjoy seeing a flourishing colony. And I'm currently researching what flowers I can plant in my garden particularly perennials which offer rich picking for bees. Thanks again everyone.

[marchogaeth]

You could ask the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for advice on how to keep the nest going. Not seeing any flying bees does not mean they aren't there. Bumblebee Conservation Trust

[cheops]

Thx marchogaeth - i'll have a look at their site.

[cheops]

A quick update. Two weeks the box with a small entrance I put the nest and queen in and then put it under the garden shed seems to have rescued the nest. I am always looking to see if there are any bees coming and going and so far I have seen none. However if I move the box slightly and gently I can hear the annoyed buzzing of wings inside the box though this noise is probably amplified by the box. So there is life in there after 2 weeks which is great. I cannot open the box to see in for fear of major disturbance but I am so glad the nest seems to be continuing.

[darcyvuqua]

A quick update. Two weeks the box with a small entrance I put the nest and queen in and then put it under the garden shed seems to have rescued the nest. I am always looking to see if there are any bees coming and going and so far I have seen none. However if I move the box slightly and gently I can hear the annoyed buzzing of wings inside the box though this noise is probably amplified by the box. So there is life in there after 2 weeks which is great. I cannot open the box to see in for fear of major disturbance but I am so glad the nest seems to be continuing.

Maybe the queen laying more workers?

[cheops]

Yes Darcyvuqua that was my guess. I don't think any bees apart from the queen was transferred so I assume the queen has laid more eggs and of course there would have been developing eggs in the nest already. I was worried would there be stored food to keep the queen going until new workers became working adults. So far it all seems good and I'm looking forward to seeing bees coming and going - a sure sign that all is now well.

[Two_Sheds]

the workers will take time to re-orientate.

Yep, that's what I found when I was called on to move a nest in the playground. They got there eventually, but the nest was abandoned (or predated) shortly afterwards anyway

red tailed bee nest - YouTube