Any bee experts on here, a bee hive has formed just inside my roof!

[JasonM]

As above, I have a bee hive that has appeared on corner of the house, I can't see the hive but can see the bees swarming.

I have taken some pictures and I think they are Bumble Bees (not honey), apparently bumble bees can just be left as they die in winter anyway. I was reading on-line and it's possible the bees are Bombus hypnorum.

If I post some pictures, and maybe try and get some footage tomorrow, are there any people here who could identify the bee type and if I need to remove them?

Many thanks
Jason

 

[bremen1874]

A hive is a box humans build for bees to live in. Do you mean nest?

A swarm isn't just a few bees flying about. Try searching bee swarm' in google images.

 

[mickyflinn]

What bumblebees look for in a nest site

https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/habitats/bumblebee-nests/


Nest sites vary between bumblebee species. Most of the more common species prefer dry, dark cavities and nests can turn up in a variety of unexpected places.

Some nest underground, in places such as abandoned rodent holes, under sheds and in compost heaps. Of those that nest above ground, some make nests in thick grass, while others make nests in bird boxes, lofts and in trees. One of the species which nests in bird boxes and lofts is the Tree bumblebee, Bombus hypnorum. With this species you may often see 'swarms' of bees flying around the nest (see the video at the bottom of this page). This is perfectly normal, and these are male bees, which often fly around nests, waiting for queens to come out so that they can mate. Male bees cannot sting, so please don't be alarmed if you see this.

When searching for a nest, the queen will investigate the environment using both sight and smell. When she finds a potentially suitable site she will investigate by going into the hole. If it proves unsuitable she will continue searching until she finds a nest site. The low-flying zig zag flight of a nest-site searching queen is seen in spring and is very distinctive.

In gardens, bumblebees tend to nest in relatively undisturbed areas such as shaded corners. Some will also nest under structures such as sheds. They do not like to nest in areas with prolonged exposure to the sun as this can heat the nest too much.

Bumblebee nests vary in size depending on the species and time of year. A well-established nest may contain up to 400 bees. Honeybee hives typically contain 50,000 bees so bumblebee nests are very small in comparison.

 

[rexehuk]

We had bees in our soffit a week ago. Had a man around with harmless powder and they've all now happily left.

Only cost 75 quid all in.

 

[JasonM]

Hi, its the soffit they are in, and of course a nest they have made.

 

[bremen1874]

I only had wasps up in roof rather than bees.

I've always decided to leave them alone until they become an actual nuisance. Luckily to date they haven't caused any real problems, and wasp nests die off at the end of the year.

My dad kept bees for a few years. An actual swarm of bees was quite frightening at times.

 

[PlacidCasual]

My personal advice would be to ignore them. The soffit will be too cold for them to safely hibernate. Then at the end of the summer block the gap they were using to get in. Bumblebees are harmless and a pretty pollinator go have in the garden.
If it were honey bees I'd suggest contacting the local association and asking if someone would remove them, you don't want bee poo, rotting wax and honey in your soffit. Also they are a sting risk.

I say this a a beekeeper not an insect specialist.

 

[rexehuk]

Hi, its the soffit they are in, and of course a nest they have made.

Where you based? Guy I used was nice and didn't harm the bees.

Don't get someone over to wipe them out, bees are good.

Only recent I sent mine away is that they're blocking my soffit project.

 

[Beans on toast Dave]

i have a nest in loft, i think they have nested in the loft insulation, wanting to leave them alone but cannot open the upstairs window as they are getting in just above it
did not realise you could get them moved with some powder, might have to have someone round, dont want to kill them as them

 

[Yaayuh!]

Any local farmers/bee keepers you can get to collect them?

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Where you based? Guy I used was nice and didn't harm the bees.

Don't get someone over to wipe them out, bees are good.

Only recent I sent mine away is that they're blocking my soffit project.

the reason why he didn't harm them is because they are a protected species. so he could have been done for killing them.

 

[Siliconslave]

Any local farmers/bee keepers you can get to collect them?

Bee keepers are only interested in honey bees, so if they are bumbles they won't help usually.

the reason why he didn't harm them is because they are a protected species. so he could have been done for killing them.

unfortunately they aren't protected in the uk, although they really should be

 

[rexehuk]

the reason why he didn't harm them is because they are a protected species. so he could have been done for killing them.

Yeah not true at all. Some companies eradicate, the guy I used in Bristol has worked for the BBC and so forth.

They take down nests and release them in a conservation area. In our instance he put powder down due to access issues.

I would have left then alone altogether but really need soffits fixed before more rain.

 

[Siliconslave]

This is worth a read: https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/faqs/moving-bumblebee-nests/

it is important to remember that bumblebees don't cause any damage to homes. They do not eat wood (like wasps do), and don't leave behind a big mess. If you can put up with living with the nest nearby, it should die naturally within a few months, and the bees will all leave or die at the end. If you don't want bees nesting in the same place the following year, block up any entrances to the nest and other suitable nest spaces nearby.

 

[psd99]

We got a bumble bee nest, I was thinking of leaving them alone

cheeky buggers setup under a tree in one of those bird houses. they aren't harmful are they?