Topic: A bee is in my daffs

[MrsKP]

I'm sitting here looking out the windae at a hail storm with brilliant sunshine and a bee in me daffs.

I think the master plan is starting to come together (although now the bee is trying to get in my office window  :o) )


 ;D

[tezz brown]

mrskp,...i have also noticed some bee activity in the last week or so,...a few days ago i released the last of 3 bees which appeared to be queens from my green house ,..i dont know if they over winterd in there or flew in , .but the first i knew about them was some frantic bussing against the panes of glass from which i cought and released them,.. i under stand they dont have much time in which to find a suitable place to start a new hive and survive,.. ps ,.they where huge bumble variety the black and white ones  :) :)

[MrsKP]

black and WHITE ?  :o

i deliberately left off the species cos i basically i haven't a clue.  i'm hoping that Robert will leap in and give me a quick 5 min education.

I'm assuming mine was a Bumble rather than a Honey but WHITE ?  never seen a black and white one before.  you don't live in newcastle do you ?  :P

[tezz brown]

just down the road from there in cleveland,..a better discription would bee ,..black with a white tail and 2 narrow yellow bands ,..one behind the head one on its body,.. so your right it is not just black and white and i used to support newcastle united,tezz

[MrsKP]

i must watch more closely next time i see my one.  see if he's got wee boots on  ;D

i've learned so much on A4A.  first i find out about Dunnocks now b/w bees.

nature is so wonderful.

 ;D

[tezz brown]

i must watch more closely next time i see my one.  see if he's got wee boots on  ;D

i've learned so much on A4A.  first i find out about Dunnocks now b/w bees.

nature is so wonderful.

 ;D

i agree its incredible and fantastic to watch

[Robert_Brenchley]

Those are queen bumble bees; there are several species, one of which is rather black and white-looking, though with a good bit of yellow in there as well. The queen hibernates, then lays eggs which hatch into workers. The nest lasts through the summer like a wasps' nest, then the last generation raised are the new queens. The rest die off.

[tezz brown]

Those are queen bumble bees; there are several species, one of which is rather black and white-looking, though with a good bit of yellow in there as well. The queen hibernates, then lays eggs which hatch into workers. The nest lasts through the summer like a wasps' nest, then the last generation raised are the new queens. The rest die off.

robert,.. i didnt  identify which species  they where ,..i assumed they where ,..bombus terrestris because these are the first ones to come out of ibernation first before bombus lucorum,..i also think they hibernated in my green house and the temperature brought them out too early and they may suffer for it,..ie they may die due to lack of flower nectar,..

[Robert_Brenchley]

Bombus terrestris is black and buff though, while B lucorum has a white tail. The only really black and white ones are Psithyrus, the cuckoo bees, but they normally come out a little later.

[MrsKP]

is my one a B lucorum then Robert ???

It's a hot day out there, and I guess he needed a rest.   ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

With the white arse, it certainly should be!

[MrsKP]

I've done some things in my time, but poking me camera up a bees bum is a new one even for me !!!

Off to google.   ;D


Edit:  mid-google atm......... I keep calling it a "he" ...... but this early on Robert, is this a she/a queen ???

[tezz brown]

I've done some things in my time, but poking me camera up a bees bum is a new one even for me !!!

Off to google.   ;D


Edit:  mid-google atm......... I keep calling it a "he" ...... but this early on Robert, is this a she/a queen ???

hi mrs kp its tezz here again,.. that is definately B lucorum,..its the spitting image of another that i have just released from my green house only this time it let me know what it thought,..it couldnt be the same one could it,.ouch ;) ;D

[GREENWIZARD]

seen my first bumbee today