Bees in the compost bin - help!

[Soooz]

Topping up my compost bin this afternoon decided to give it a turn and have discovered I have a large number of what look like bumble bees in residence who are not amused at being disturbed.

I know they are in decline and wish them no ill, but I really would rather not keep them.

If I leave the top off the compost bin will they move on elsewhere?

Thanks

Soooz

[jackarmy]

Im no bumble bee xpert but i thought they were solitary, no photos ?

Nope, seems i was wrong, look like this ?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bu...I2p55K3M%253A%

[Martin H]

I've had one make a nest in a (rather too dry) compost heap in the past. My sister, who was an expert on bumble bees, told me it's quite common. I left that heap alone until the winter. No help to you I know.

[Soooz]

Thanks to both of you - Unfortunately no photo worth looking at as they are buzzing around quite quickly and won't pose for photos - the ones I managed to get with actual bees in them are too blurry to be of any use! They do look like bumble bees rather than honey bees though and once disturbed about a couple of dozen or so started to crawl out and buzz around.

Interestingly, my compost is rather dry which is why I was giving it a turn and mixing in some rather soggy grass clippings.

It seems if they are bumble bees then I will need to leave them be but in return they will happily pollinate all the beans I am going to sow later in the month.

[marchogaeth]

Pleased to hear you are going to leave them. They are unlikely to be back next year if you keep the bin turned and watered next winter. Might be worth watering it with a starter (water/urine/manure type tea) once the bees move out. Depending on the species they could be gone by late summer.