Bumble Bee.

Graces7

Today I sat and watched three large bees working in a patch of winter flowering heather.. Busy as always.. Wondering where they come from so early in the year.

I put some honey out for them, but the heather seemed fine to them. Two of them came and perched on my sleeve; I had been working with lavender oil. They seem a wee bit dopey. Friendly wee fellows..

Mothman

Seems like you were watching queen Bumble Bees. Many different species, the queens hibernate and some species are already working hard creating a nest for this year. They like crocuses and they are doing a good job on the apricot tree which is in full flower. Also sallows are flowering and they're another good source of food.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Queens active here for the past week too.

This may be a good time to refer back to this older thread on building a Bumble Bee Nest

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055916889

johngalway

There are a few "bees" bumbling around here for the last week or ten days. One in particular seemed rather affectionate towards my high viz jacket.

Wild_Dogger

We had a massive bee fly in today ........
Almost solid black , like a really heavy bumble bee .

What is it ?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I'd suggest a Red-tailled Bumble Bee. Google it and check.

Graces7

Mothman wrote: »

Seems like you were watching queen Bumble Bees. Many different species, the queens hibernate and some species are already working hard creating a nest for this year. They like crocuses and they are doing a good job on the apricot tree which is in full flower. Also sallows are flowering and they're another good source of food.

So there are ??nests?? nearby?

Birdnuts

Saw my first bumble bee of the year yesterday:)

Mothman

Graces7 wrote: »

So there are ??nests?? nearby?

Indeed. Each Bumble Bee you see now will probably be attempting to nest, but it could be 500m or more away. There isn't much food around for them at moment and they'll travel for a nice bit of heather
They don't make big nests, anything from 40 to 100 individuals is typical at its peak during summer. Nesting sites are often mouse holes, holes in trees or in vegetation on the ground, hence the useful link that Srameen posted.

Graces7

Mothman wrote: »

Indeed. Each Bumble Bee you see now will probably be attempting to nest, but it could be 500m or more away. There isn't much food around for them at moment and they'll travel for a nice bit of heather
They don't make big nests, anything from 40 to 100 individuals is typical at its peak during summer. Nesting sites are often mouse holes, holes in trees or in vegetation on the ground, hence the useful link that Srameen posted.

Fascinating; thank you. There are plenty of old tree trunks around etc. Just am being very careful as we have dogs who will chase bees and I do not want the dogs hurt. I did try to follow but they got away

It was that there were three of them.... Separate colonies?

Mothman

Graces7 wrote: »

Just am being very careful as we have dogs who will chase bees and I do not want the dogs hurt. I did try to follow but they got away

Bumble Bees in particular are extremely lazy stingers.
Of course being in a dogs mouth probably would be enough provocation, but if your dogs are like the ones I've experienced, they like the chase...but they don't know what to do once they catch the thing. And frankly if the dog is stung, then they are clever enough to know what not to catch in future.

It was that there were three of them.... Separate colonies?

While it has been documented that colonies and hence workers have overwintered, this is unusual and considering the cold in December very unlikely, so therefore you probably saw 3 Queens and yes, each will intend to form a colony. It'll be April or even May before the Queens are joined in foraging by the workers which are smaller than the Queens.

littlebug

Some more bees in my front garden this morning hanging around some heathers. Smaller than the red tailed I saw last week, smaller and stripy... that's as good a description I can give It's great to see and hear them.
There's a little spot I know on Inis Mór that gives true meaning to W.B. Yeats' "bee loud glade"..... I can't even describe how loud it is! The place is just alive with bees!

thebishop

Wondering are these some type of tick on the bees side or are they a natural part of the body.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They are Bumble Bee mites. Too many and the Bee can be weakened to the point of not being able to fly.

Have a look her: It works:-

http://www.uksafari.com/bumblebees3.htm

thebishop

Thanks for that link srameen.Must try that the next time I see one with mite. That one was weel able to fly.

Bumble bee by fionbharra, on Flickr

littlebug

This one wasn't too happy about being stuck in my kitchen today (excuse the manky window ). There was then a near miss with the dogs mouth when I let her out.



Bombus Terrestris Queen I think.

littlebug

Red tailed bumble bee



And I think this is the Aran bee.... open to correction.