pavman Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Gents Bumble bees (?) are busy making a nest under my kennel feed shed, the flight line is past an empty kennel but within 6 ft of the main run housing my Lab, I have noticed activity for the last week but numbers seem to be on a rapid increase. So far no interest in, or from the Lab, but I am a little concerned. Obviously I am happy to host the little garden workers I just wish they had picked a different spot. Any advise on the life cycle of a nest (how long will it be active) and any danger to the dog would be much appreciated pavman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 If they are 'bumble bees' most species don't sting and are not aggressive and the nests tend to house small numbers so no real worries BUT if they are honey bees then maybe you should call in an apiculturist (bee keeper) who will (maybe) take them away and give them a good home. If they turn out to be wasps then blat the boogers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Pavman, I saw a programme a while back about bee keeping and one of the points I remember was the bee keeper telling the interviewer that bee's don't like bad smells He also went on to state that dogs get stung cos of their exhaust pipe emissions. Unfortunatly I can't recall what type of bee it was but you need to make sure for Astra's health and well being and let us know when you find out please. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Pavman, I saw a programme a while back about bee keeping and one of the points I remember was the bee keeper telling the interviewer that bee's don't like bad smells He also went on to state that dogs get stung cos of their exhaust pipe emissions. Unfortunatly I can't recall what type of bee it was but you need to make sure for Astra's health and well being and let us know when you find out please. LB cheers LB, whilst I fret away at work! will try to catch one in one of my nets and take a pic for ID Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunk Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Bumblebees make a small underground nest which will get bigger and have more occupants as the summer progresses. The bees will die off come winter,but if they are succesfull there might be a lot of bees flying around. You could raise the flightline by putting something near the hole that they need to fly over to go foraging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 The farm I shoot has lots of bees. They have one hive on the corner of a rape field which has a smaller sized English honey bee which is extremely aggressive. I was chased for a good 150 yards and then stung (LB's comments about smell are noted). It's all down to the particular bee - bumble bees are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Apparently, Bees and wasps dislike human's breath... No, honestly... I watched a programme about that where a guy breathed through a tube which vented a few meters away, and the bees didn't mind his presence. As soon as he started breathing normally close to the hive, they started to get really aggressive, and buzzed all around him. Strange, but true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Theres a hornets nest where I shoot and at the weekend we were sat about 60 odd yards away with the bipods set up taking out the hornets. It was pretty fun, but when we left one followed us all the way back to the house which was a good few hundred meters away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Bumble bees don't generate in great numbers their hives are often small affairs and they DON'T swarm like Honey bees! Also the only buble bee that CAN'T sting is the drone or Male bee. The Queen and Female (workers) can sting if they so desire! They are quite placid and laid back and it's quite rare for one to sting under NORMAL circumstances To be honest I would personally leave the Bees about their buisness. It's Wasps that are by far the worst followed closely by Honey bees barring the Hornet of course!! I worked a Farm once and the farmer had 7 hives on the perimiter of the field i had to go cabbage picking in. At first I was reluctant to go anywhere near the hives till the farmer told me they wouldn't bother me!! I rode the tractor into the field cut and boxed about 80 cabbages and by this time the bees had swarmed and started stinging me. I was stung so many time i felt physically sick and had to go home. The following morning my joints felt sore and i couldn't open one of my eyes and when i looked in the morror half my face was puffed up. Off to the hospital and a few anti hystamines later the swelling started to subside. I kinda steer clear of honey bees now and squash all wasps on sight. Honey bees I still leave alone even if they get in the house i catch them in a cup and let em go but I take no prisoners with wasps. LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Wasps are the only animal I am really scared of (well other than a hungary lion etc), believe me its not good stuff! I couldn't deal with it personally, I dont know why its a completely irrational fear, never been stung etc. So I would probably pay an extortiante fee to have them removed! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 I was like that with wasps, then I got stung, it didn't hurt very much and now I don't care much for 'em. Still kill 'em though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 My former boss was a Bee Keeper and Shooter and had two lovely Springers. A couple of summers ago bees from one of his hives in his large garden attacked both his dogs. He never found out why for sure as he has had bees and dogs for the last 25 years or so without any incident. One dog was so badly stung in its mouth, ears, eyes that the vet had no alternative to put it down, sadly it was a young dog. The other dog was sedated by the vet after going into shock but luckily pulled through. The bees were showing their natural defence mechanisms to the hive and the dogs were obviously seen as a threat. The weather had been warm and the production of honey was at a peak, this may have contributed to thier behavior. I have studied bumble bees in the wild, which are indeed facinating, its amazing just how many different species there are. Generally they are non aggressive unless the nest is in jeopardy, and I would say that they dont pose any particular threat to the dogs. I would be tempted to just leave them to there BUZZiness. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Guys thanks I am sure they are bumble bees, large yellow and black and they have stings! That said they seem to have no interest other than going about thier business, it was facinating watching them last night, we have a veggi plot within feet of the nest with all manner of goodies so for now I will hope its fine to leave them well alone. The dogs cant get near the nest its just the flight line through the kennel that worries me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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