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| Thread ID: 82398 | 2007-08-26 03:08:00 | A question about bees | Laura (43) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 584710 | 2007-08-26 03:08:00 | I know tweak'e is our resident bee expert, but this is the bumble variety rather than the honey... I was woken about 3am by a sharp pain in a finger. Couldn't fathom why until I saw a bumble bee crawling across the pillow. I quickly flicked it to the floor, but it kept climbing back. Now I have nothing against bumblebees. In fact, I quite like them. They fertilise my broad beans. I assumed the sting was simply because I'd moved suddenly, rather than bee agression. ( My bare feet were often stung when I trod on them as a kid, so I know I'm not allergic) But I didn't fancy going back to sleep in case it stung me again somewhere dangerous - like an eye. And I realised I didn't know if it could sting again - or would now die? The finger had no actual sting left in it & I was too groggy for a detailed search. Today a quick online check tells me bumblebees don't die after stinging, as honey bees do, & it may be a queen emerging from hibernation, looking for somewhere to build a nest. I think they're cute, but don't want a nest in the bedroom.The bee has hidden itself somewhere & will be hard to locate if it stays quiet. Or would nest-building mean enough flying - so I'll see it? Anyone had bumble bee experience, please... |
Laura (43) | ||
| 584711 | 2007-08-26 04:11:00 | i don't about being called an expert....still learning lots :) i get asked a bit about them as they are often used for pollination. spring seams to be kicking in, blossoms are out, new leaves on trees, honey bee drones are starting to come out (already ! ! !). it could well be the bumbles are coming out, seen a few of the larger breed. if you find it, kick it out side or you could even feed it and make a home for it. due to lack of honeybees (thanks to varroa) there is a LOT more bumbles around now due to the extra food available. |
tweak'e (69) | ||
| 584712 | 2007-08-26 04:35:00 | If you're going to have a nest of bees around the house, bumbles are the ones to have!! It's news to me that they can sting more than once! Have you been to this site (www.organicpathways.co.nz) Laura? It says "Newly-active bumblebee queens are looking for concealed, dry cavities in which to lay their eggs and brood in September/October." So you may well have an early-riser. May pay to get her into a box (if you can find her again :) ) like they describe if you can and put it somewhere sheltered in the garden. Then go crazy in the garden and plant lots of flowering stuff nearby... :thumbs: |
johcar (6283) | ||
| 584713 | 2007-08-26 04:44:00 | I was visited by a large Bumble Bee today, I left the front door open because of the great weather in Christchurch and I noticed that it had flown in and was investigating the whole flat at about 6 inches off the ground. I thought it was hunting but maybe it was looking for a place to lay eggs lol. Eventually after about 15 mins it flew out the door never to return. We also get what I call 'smart flies' here, they come into the flat just like the bee did but later in Summer when it is hot, they purposefully fly round all over the place, never get lost and fly into the windows if you panic them like most other flies do, once ordinary flies hit the window they seem to lose orientation and never go far from the window, heading for the light, stupid things, but the 'smart flies' always recover quickly and fly out the door. They seem to learn the layout of the flat and never fly into the walls when they are paniced, they just buzz extra loud and fly higher towards the ceiling then find the door. |
zqwerty (97) | ||
| 584714 | 2007-08-26 09:53:00 | As I understand it, it must be a queen, cos I believe that only the queen survives over the winter and she starts a new colony in spring. She would have been fertilised last autumn. She will be looking for a new dark dry place to start her colony. I think they must be a bit confused by the strange winter we haven't had. Just like the spring blossoms that seem to be coming out way too early. Daffodils are even starting to bloom down here. In the past week or so I too have had a humble bumble in my office, which is down the bottom of the garden. Some days have been so mild I have left the office ranchslider open and she just bumbled on in, did a couple of circuits and rejected me as a host... My grandma, who was an apiarist, told me that bumble bees do sting, and like a wasp they can sting more than once. Unlike honey bees, they don't leave a sting behind and they don't die when they sting. However, Granny said that they rarely sting, but I don't remember if she said why. Maybe it is just because the numbers are low. |
John H (8) | ||
| 584715 | 2007-08-26 20:37:00 | I was woken about 3am by a sharp pain in a finger. Couldn't fathom why until I saw a bumble bee crawling across the pillow. I quickly flicked it to the floor, but it kept climbing back. . It stung you because you hurt it. Not intentionally but we are enormous in comparison. Poor thing, its probably damaged now. I used to rescue them out of the pool when we had one. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 584716 | 2007-08-27 01:32:00 | Maybe the bee was winmacguy's mother? If so, beware of Codlin Moth this summer. ;) |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 584717 | 2007-08-27 04:08:00 | Hmm... so, a bee in your boudoir.... maybe it was Buddy Rogers making a comeback... I'd Like To Be A Bee In Your Boudoir (vintage-recordings.com), from a 1930 film with Carole Lombard called 'Safety in Numbers'. Talk about crazy words, crazy tunes............. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
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