Bees

[DIDO.1 22,851]

This time of year I'm normally getting dozens of calls for bees. I don't kill bees unless they create a real issue or hazard and I have a list of bee keepers ready to pick up honey bees. Normally we get lots of calls for bumble bees in bird boxes and I will pick them up and re home them. Next come the tree bees and at certain times I've had 50 plus calls a day for them.... again we just educate and leave them in peace. Even though we hear stories about how bees are endangered I have actually found them to be increasing. A lot of my bee keepers are at capacity and really don't want more bees, we have the new tree bees and every other bee species increases year on year. 

Until this year. I've had quite a few honey bee calls, although the swarms seem to be moving and not settling. I've moved 1 box full of bumble bees.... and absolutely nothing else. 

Little bit worrying how they don't seem to be here this year. I normally have to leave an answerphone message at this time as I simply can't handle all the calls. 

On the plus side I've seen loads of queen wasps, just need to wait and see if that translates to nests later on

[Greyman 30,078]

Could it be down to the incredibly wet spring we have had and are still having it rained here non stop all night and all day yesterday the river is running through chocolate brown agai this morning, or th other thing I am noticing is a massive increase in hornets which I believe are detrimental to bees ???

[Arry 23,332]

Yeah I've seen more Queen Wasps this year than I normally do. Also those little Wasps that look for the Mining bees holes which I've also noticed have been digging out on my bank. Honey bees seen quite a few we do have flowers from early on.

Dytkos but up a picture of a swarm in phone photos the other day.

Cheers Arry 

[DIDO.1 22,851]

4 minutes ago, Greyman said:

Could it be down to the incredibly wet spring we have had and are still having it rained here non stop all night and all day yesterday the river is running through chocolate brown agai this morning, or th other thing I am noticing is a massive increase in hornets which I believe are detrimental to bees ???

We don't get hornets up here. I've found 1 dead in an office window a few years ago. Another pest controller I trust said he did two nest around Preston last year though. 

I'm not convinced it's the weather either as that's not bothered them in the past, bees seem better able to deal with a poor spring than wasps. 

[tank34 2,491]

I've had 7 swarms of bees in past two week some from my own bees , two swarm got in small box an next day gone moved on was not happy in there 

[pesky1972 5,521]

7 hours ago, DIDO.1 said:

Even though we hear stories about how bees are endangered I have actually found them to be increasing.

As is often the case, hunters usually provide very good insight into the how various species are fairing. Be it the salmon fisherman, the pest controller or the humble ferreter, they’re usually the first to know there’s a problem…, and often the first or even only ones sounding the alarm.

Agree with Greyman that the long and very wet spring must have had an impact on a few critters. It’ll right itself again next year though no doubt.

Hope you’re wide of the mark with the wasps. I hate the little sh!ts!

[waltjnr 7,414]

Seeing a lot of queen wasps ,and hornets here in herts ,don't mind the hornets they seem quite calm 

 

Edited May 23, 2024 by waltjnr

[Greyman 30,078]

Have a french lavender on the roof is humming with bees most days 

[mackem 28,652]

I like bees.

[eastcoast 4,302]

18 hours ago, pesky1972 said:

As is often the case, hunters usually provide very good insight into the how various species are fairing. Be it the salmon fisherman, the pest controller or the humble ferreter, they’re usually the first to know there’s a problem…, and often the first or even only ones sounding the alarm.

Agree with Greyman that the long and very wet spring must have had an impact on a few critters. It’ll right itself again next year though no doubt.

Hope you’re wide of the mark with the wasps. I hate the little sh!ts!

A good case in point being otters. Any TV programme on otters will tell us that they were almost hunted to extinction in UK before a ban came in. Truth was that the only people who noticed a decline in numbers were otter hunters. The MOHA put a self imposed stop to hunting and brought the otter's predicament to the attention of others. Of course the real reason for the decline was partly due to "liberated" North American mink but mostly to unregulated dumping of crap into our waterway systems. 

[DIDO.1 22,851]

4 hours ago, eastcoast said:

A good case in point being otters. Any TV programme on otters will tell us that they were almost hunted to extinction in UK before a ban came in. Truth was that the only people who noticed a decline in numbers were otter hunters. The MOHA put a self imposed stop to hunting and brought the otter's predicament to the attention of others. Of course the real reason for the decline was partly due to "liberated" North American mink but mostly to unregulated dumping of crap into our waterway systems. 

I thought it was DDT that was the killer for otters. 

I believe the spread of otters seems to be pushing the mink out at the minute. 

Your correct about the otter hounds....some of today's otter groups have their roots and direct links to otter hunters. 

[dytkos 17,864]

On my walk the other day.

Cheers, D.

[Perry Yanet 0]

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[DIDO.1 22,851]

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