Bumble Bee Nester

[Flytrap]

Has anyone used a bumble bee nester like the ones for sale from garden4less Bumble bee nester
It's only £17.99 (plus free delivery).
Just wondered if they were a waste of time/money.
Would love to attract bumble bees to the garden and to be able to look into the nest with the viewing window.
I was thinking of buying one this winter ready for when the queens are looking for a nest in spring.
What do you think?

[Headfry]

Hi Flytrap, I was very kindly given one for my birthday!
I hope next year to have a bumble bee nest in there, not sure how it will go.

Sometimes I have to wonder if companies are jumping on the 'green' band wagon
terrible thing to say I know.

I live in hope of bumble bees!

[Flytrap]

Sometimes I have to wonder if companies are jumping on the 'green' band wagon

I know what you mean. I think the price seems quite reasonable but if they don't work then there is no point.
I have also looked at the ladybird boxes and such like but again don't know if they actually ever attract ladybirds. Anyone used these as well?


Thanks,

Flytrap

[smallblueplanet]

I've had one of those nester boxes - no bumble bees though. I put it down the bottom of the garden near the hedge, I think it had mice in it. They aren't very resistant to rotting and I think ours has suffered quite badly in just a year.

I did lots of googling before getting one and realised the odds were against it being used. I did read that a good way to attract bumblebees was by the smell of an old mouse nest - so maybe there might have been some this year...I've not looked because i ditched it somewhere but if I can find it I'll have a look.

I have had some success with different bees - solitary bees (and similar insects) do use the 'nest' holes drilled in wood, you can tell easily cos they cover the hole entrance with mud.

[Two_Sheds]

£18 ?
that's not reasonable to me ... can't you make something out of sticks and stuff?

I have a bundle of old canes tied up on the side of my shed ... I'm sure there'll be bugs in there if I investigated.

here's a site with some home-made suggestions: Bumblebee nest box trial

[Two_Sheds]

Seriously, I don't think they work. Read "No Nettles Required" a scientific study (but an easy read) on how to attract wildlife to your garden. It debunks a lot of myths (such as having to plant only native plants) and says that basically these ready-made boxes don't work.
It could be down to them smelling too "new" or not being quite right in some other way; not put in the right place ...
a lot of bird boxes go unused too.


I have lots of bees and butterflies, but no special nesting boxes anywhere nearby. I do however have lots of nectar-rich food like broadbeans, French beans, calendula, buddleja and so on.

[poozie]

I have an insect box full of canes of various thickneses, I got it off ebay last year. anyway nothing used it last year but this year i am very excited to see that about 5 of the cane holes have been sealed with a papery substance and suspect my little leaf cutter bee (who decimated my fuschia) has laid her eggs inside.

[Helen Johnson]

We put one in the garden,half way up the fence, All it seemed to attract was spiders, which seemed sad, as if they were waiting for dinner to appear in the spring.