19/07/2024
Let's talk bees!
Lately lots of people are finding bees in odd places, believing they have a honey bee hive. Did you know there are many different kinds of bees? Hundreds actually. If not thousands. As a bee keeper, I was called to 2 different places this past week, to possibly collect some honey bees. The first call was actually leaf cutter bees, and the second one was Carpenter bees. So let's see the difference between them.
FYI yes I WILL DO honey bee removal. I can NOT help with other kinds of bee removal.
First picture (photos are in order and will be labeled) is a Carpenter bee. They are a solitary bee, that normally lives in a colony, but each has its own individual nest of brood to feed and care for. They are mostly harmless and rarely sting, unless you decided to go poking around at it and trying to grab it. They will fly near you as a warning to back off, but very rarely ever sting. They are often found in garbage bins, or places with wood or cardboard nearby. Wooden doors, eves, wooden lawn furniture, windowsills, anywhere with wood or cardboard access. Notice the shiny black bum. These are great pollinators to have around, and if they aren't in your way, and they "home" can be moved to a safe and out of the way location, keep them! They are wonderful pollinators. They are a medium to large size bee and have all kinds of different sizes living in the same colony. Don't call us unless you really need help. Very few of us are equiped to do this kind of removal.
2nd photo is a leaf cutter bee. Similar in size to a honey bee. They are another solitary bee, which also lives in a colony. Often found in tree fall which they have drilled holes, man-made "bee houses" (Bamboo sticks for houses), in the ground, or plant stems. Any man-made "holes" that they fit into snugly. They make their nests out of leaves. Again each bee has its own nest and babies. Another friendly bee which rarely stings unless you go around poking at it. Again, if they aren't causing you issues location wise, let them be. If you can move them safely to a better location, do so and keep them around. Yoi don't need to call us unless these are in your way. Very few of us have the means to assist in this kind of removal.
Bumble bee. These bees are "standard" native bees. When people think "bee" this is who they picture. They are bigger than the honey bee, and often have a brown stripe on its bum or yellow stripes and are just big. They are round and fuzzy. With smaller wings looking like they defy gravity and really shouldn't be able to fly. They often make hives in cavities often in the ground. Also, they could be sheds, trees, empty mouse den, under dense vegetation, anywhere with an open interior space that has a small opening on the outside. These are looked at as the golden retrievers of the bee world. They don't mind you, they don't want to sting you. Unless you handle them, you are likely fine. They do live in colony with a queen, but only produce minimal amounts of honey. If during your gardening you accidentally dig up a nest of theirs, it'll will be bumpy and ball like, and weird shaped. If possible leave it alone. They will only nest there for one season then move on. Don't call us unless you really need this moved. We don't want to disturb these bees. I don't believe any of us are equiped to do this kind of removal.
Now for the honey bee. This is a smaller thinner bee than any of the others. They are the ones we raise and keep as bee keepers. They can pose a risk of stings and swarming. We as bee keepers also collect these. Swarm season is here. This is a bee which you may randomly see a "beard of bees" outside in a tree branch, lamp, wall... Or find you suddenly see a lot of action happening in an area that may have a new hive.... Call us! We can help! We would LOVE to help!!
