The similarities shared by bumblebees and honeybees can sometimes make it difficult to tell the difference between the two insects. Both bee types sport black and yellow stripes on their bodies, produce honey and depend on flowering plants for food. One sure-fire way to distinguish bumble bees is their nesting habits which are unlike any other stinging insect on earth.
When am I likely to find a Bumblebee Nest?
Queen bumblebees will choose a mate in the fall. The queen will then store the sperm of her mate inside her body until the winter months arrive. Once spring arrives, the queen bumblebee will search for a well-sheltered area for her and her brood to nest. The spot the queen chooses for her nest will likely provide some sort of shade from the sun so that the temperature is not excessive inside the nest.
Queen bumblebees are able to fertilize their own eggs. They will decide whether or not to do so depending on whether more males or females are needed in the colony. Female worker bees are produced when the eggs of the queen bee remain unfertilized. Fertilized eggs will spawn male workers. The queen will lay her eggs in brood cells where she will then provide them with the pollen and nectar they need to develop.
Where Might I find a Bumblebee Nest?
Although bumblebees are adaptable to a number of circumstances, they will often opt for nesting space that is not far off the ground. This is the reason many homeowners see bee activity near their stoops or under their porches. This likely happens because there are already holes and cavities in these spaces that were usable by the bees.
Other common nesting areas for bumblebees include:
- Tree Hollows
- Tall Grass
- Bird Nest
- Lumber Piles
- Rodent Burrows
How Will I Know a Bumble Bee Nest When I See One?
The leaves, animal fur, and other material bumblebees use to make their nests may cause you to mistake the nest of the bumblebee for a pile of trash or other debris. Bumblebee colonies usually consist of 50 to 400 members. This is much smaller than a honeybee nest which can host as many as 50,000 honeybees. Individuals familiar with the structure of a bumblebee nest will also recognize a group of disorganized wax cells along with the honeypots the bees feed on.
How Should I Respond to a Bumblebee Nest on My Property?
Bumblebees are docile creatures who do not pose much threat to people unless an allergy is present in the person. However, you should probably leave the removal of their nests to a professional wildlife removal service.
The activity of bumblebees is important to flowers, plants, and other vegetation that is vital to both the food chain and the environment as a whole. Bumblebees are even largely responsible for the beauty of the large gardens and parks we enjoy in both urban and suburban settings.
Bumblebee colonies have experienced a steep decline in numbers in recent years. When you destroy the nest of the bumblebee, you could possibly expedite the extinction of the species. It is important to remember that only a queen bumblebee can produce new bumblebees each spring. This means that the destruction of a nest that includes a future queen is the equivalent of killing multiple generations of a bumblebee colony.
How to Find the Help You Need
If a colony of nesting bumblebees on your property is causing you concerns, Covenant Wildlife Removal is available to assist you. The company offers both commercial and residential wildlife removal services and possesses more than 30 years of experience serving the people of Greater Birmingham.
If you or someone close to you has a problem with a wildlife infestation in a home or on a property, your first call should be to Covenant Wildlife Removal.
