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Michael Dreyer
House Bee
Joined: 21 Aug 2014
Posts: 13
Location: Bremen, Germany
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 Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 8:57 pm Post subject: Three nice mice occupied my TBH |
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Dear friends,
Just have checked my TBHs. Sadly 2 colonies have died. On opening one I scared three nice mice sitting in the nest they had build. Unfortunately the whole TBH was smelling strongly from the mouse urine and fecals. My question how to clean up (using my gas burner?) and if so can I reuse the TBH and will the bees accept it despite the smell? Regards Michael |
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trekmate
Golden Bee
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
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| Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Hi Michael
I have no experience of this, but bumblebees LOVE the smell of mouse urine. They often nest in used mouse nests. In parts of Africa human urine is used to bait a hive with great success.
I'd clean out the hive the same as usual, scorching the wood if you're not certain why the colony died. I don't think the smell would be a problem, maybe even a benefit.
Maybe set it as a bait hive and let know if it's successful? It could be the start of mouse rearing by beekeepers!
John |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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