Pest Control in Scotland???

[StephOC 6]

I research bumblebees at Stirling University and the experiment I'm currently carrying out requires me to find, dig up and kill bumblebee nests for later dissection and analysis.

 

I know some folk on here are pest controllers, and wondered if people contact you to remove bumblebee nests from their gardens, etc.?

If so, would you be willing to either give me the dead nests, or let me go and dig them up myself to help with my research?

 

Ideally north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling, Perthshire, Dundee, and Angus ay would be great.

 

Thanks, steph

[Fenlander 0]

I research bumblebees at Stirling University and the experiment I'm currently carrying out requires me to find, dig up and kill bumblebee nests for later dissection and analysis.

 

I know some folk on here are pest controllers, and wondered if people contact you to remove bumblebee nests from their gardens, etc.?

If so, would you be willing to either give me the dead nests, or let me go and dig them up myself to help with my research?

 

Ideally north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling, Perthshire, Dundee, and Angus ay would be great.

 

Thanks, steph

 

I think you will find that most pest controllers, where appropriate, will actually try and relocate bee's rather than destroy them.

Edited August 12, 2009 by Fenlander

[Foxgun Tom 75]

I was under the impression that due to the decline in numbers of bumblebees especially in Scotland that they had some kind of protection, they're not protected by law, some species of bumblebees in the UK are in decline thus becoming a rarity!! and it was inappropriate to kill them or desroy their nests, I have'nt heard of any pest controllers destroying bumblebee nests??

 

Tom

 

Ps: check out the spaniel who searches for bumblebee nest: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5197120.stm

Edited August 12, 2009 by Foxgun Tom

[stubby 175]

not saying bee's dont get treated, but with our firm its a no no, we phone the bee keepers local to area and pass the job of removal to them

[Guest Bubbleduck]

I research bumblebees at Stirling University and the experiment I'm currently carrying out requires me to find, dig up and kill bumblebee nests for later dissection and analysis.

Thanks, steph

 

WTF???

Bumblebees are becoming rare as hell these days and you're asking for help to kill them?

f**k the experiment, leave them alone!

[McKay 37]

I can smell a rat, something not right with that

[billbroon 9]

Ive got a hive in a compost bucket in my garden but not wanting rid of it, there good to watch buzzing in and out and once winter comes i cant wait to get it out and have a look.

atb billy

[StephOC 6]

I certainly hadn't expected this response!

 

Just assumed that pest controllers would kill bumblebee nests that members of the public found troublesome, its really cool to hear that they either relocate them or leave them alone altogether!

 

Last year, through word of mouth, I moved a nest that was in a rockery which was being knocked down and built on. I simply thought that pest controllers might take many such requests, and if they were going to kill them anyway, then at least this would put them to some ‘use’.

 

Bumblebees receive no legal protection in the UK. I am in contact with the bee keepers already, should they recieve any requests.

 

At this time of year, most of the nest are made up of old, empty cells and the newly produced queens have already left to mate and hibernate. However, the number and size of cells and all the contents of the decaying nest, pollen stores, nest parasites, any signs of small mammalian predation, genetics of the dead, and dying old bees is what I’m really interested in. Doing anything to damage bumblebee populations further is certainly the opposite of what I’m trying to do!

 

Whilst a little daunted by ‘slightly aggressive’ response here in some cases, its just fantastic that people do care about bumblebees so much!

[bobndog 0]

I research bumblebees at Stirling University and the experiment I'm currently carrying out requires me to find, dig up and kill bumblebee nests for later dissection and analysis.

Thanks, steph

 

WTF???

Bumblebees are becoming rare as hell these days and you're asking for help to kill them?

f**k the experiment, leave them alone!

 

:clapper: Well said Bubbleduck.

[Swampy 147]

"Whilst a little daunted by ‘slightly aggressive’ response here in some cases, its just fantastic that people do care about bumblebees so much!"

 

 

 

How could anyone describe folk on here as "aggressive"?!!!!

 

Oh how we are misunderstood

 

 

Swampy

 

 

peace love and ning man1

[Foxgun Tom 75]

Having received a pm from the lady and done a wee bit of research on my own I do believe him to be genuine individual studying bumblebees, He was under the misconception that a majority of pest controllers would have no compassion for the wee fuzzy bombers and would kill them and destroy their nests and she'd be able too benefit from the pest controllers work, it was as simple as that nothing sinister

 

Tom

 

I can smell a rat, something not right with that

Edited August 14, 2009 by Foxgun Tom

[RicW 67]

I research bumblebees at Stirling University and the experiment I'm currently carrying out requires me to find, dig up and kill bumblebee nests for later dissection and analysis.

 

I know some folk on here are pest controllers, and wondered if people contact you to remove bumblebee nests from their gardens, etc.?

If so, would you be willing to either give me the dead nests, or let me go and dig them up myself to help with my research?

 

Ideally north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling, Perthshire, Dundee, and Angus ay would be great.

 

Thanks, steph

You just asumed that because we, people on this site, are prepared to control pest species we are all a bunch of killers. It is precisely because we care for the country that we accept the necessity to control numbers to maintain the balance of nature.

[DIDO.1 22,845]

I have in the past destroyed bee nests but only if there is no other option and the are causeing a danger ie. I did one in a scool wall last year. But for me and every other pest controller that iv had any dealings with its a last resort. I would be happy to give you any help I could, as research into bees is important to us all in that they pollenate our crops, but the number of nests destroyed in is quite small and are usually in house walls where they cannot be reached, hence the need to destroy rather than move the offending nest.

 

Ian.

[Sighthound 49]

I've met Steph in person, she used my snipped hob as she's a keen ferreter and lives not too far from me.

She is a genuine lass engaged in genuine important research.

I believe that it is her spaniel that locates the bees.

Sometimes research does involve the destruction and examination of the species being examined, sad but true.

[macberran 2]

Having received a pm from the lad and done a wee bit of research on my own I do believe him to be genuine individual studying bumblebees, He was under the misconception that a majority of pest controllers would have no compassion for the wee fuzzy bombers and would kill them and destroy their nests and he'd be able too benefit from the pest controllers work, it was as simple as that nothing sinister

 

Tom

 

I can smell a rat, something not right with that

Ahem ..FT I enjoy your posts and your undoubted knowledge is an obvious reflection of years nae decades of the love of your sport and the countryside...............HOWEVER, there may be a trip too specsavers needed here as Steph is not a bloke .................

 

mind you, you may be from Milngavie