Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[What Now?]

I was called to a friend's house yesterday because of bees. I am sure they are small bumble bees. Rounder, shorter and furry bodies. They are on her balcony so quite close to where she wants to be.

Today's simple question is 'what advice do I give her'?

Thanks.

[Tavascarow]

My answer is try to educate her to love them.
I've been called out to a couple of bumble bee nests & It's possible in most instances to relocate them with very gentle handling.
Although I'm not sure of the legality.
Tell her their life cycle & how threatened they are. (Pesticides, loss of habitat).
Emphasise how beneficial they are.
Try & identify the species, make it personal. Statements like "Wow, I haven't seen any of those for a long time". Makes them think they have something special.
Reassure that their numbers will never escalate to more than fifty or a hundred bees & they are never aggressive unless threatened.
In fifty six years the only time I've been stung by a bumble was when I accidentally sat on one.
Fear comes from ignorance & our species tend to have ignorance in abundance.
If it turns out she can't be swayed try a relocation.

[Tavascarow]

If you do try to relocate seek good advice from the more specialist bee people before you do.
& give her the internet link to the buglife bee page.
https://www.buglife.org.uk/

[steved6530]

I too have had several calls this year about swarms that, on questioning, turned out to be bumble bees. It never ceases to amaze me the ignorance of an educated society with thoughts of killer bees which adopt ninja assassin tactics and attack you in the dead of night...........or even worse, whilst your sitting on the toilet.

Educating people and reassuring them is something I have got very good at over the years. The majority of people respond positively, with the exceptional few who insist on the bumbles being moved......or else! I do hope there is such a thing as karma