Bees nest?

[derbex]

I moved the remains of last years compost heap today and the bees were crawling/flying &c all around the cleared area -could they have a nest there? If they do can I plant my comfrey by it or would it disturb them too much -assuming I haven't already.

Jeremy

[derbex]

[Robert_Brenchley]

It sounds like wasps. Bees don't nest in the ground. If you haven't actually dug up the nest you should be OK, but watch out for stings.

[derbex]

Hmm -definitely bees, I was close enough to tell, not sure what kind though but smaller than bumble bees. Might not be a nest -maybe there was just something that they were after? Not sure what though as there's no greenery there.

Jeremy

[Robert_Brenchley]

Could they be bumblebees- I was thinking of honey bees. Bumbles are often very small at first, as there aren't enough of them to feed the larvae properly. then they get bigger as the season continues.

[Mrs Ava]

Had bees in our lawn when I lived in Epsom many years ago.  Not aggressive, but they were everywhere!  Anyhow, I have no further information so will shuffle away into a corner and admire my globe artichokes!  ;D

[redimp]

quite a few of the solitary bees best in holes in the ground - including miner bees and red and blue bottomed whatsits.

[Rosa_Mundi]

Have also had bees in the ground or very low on several occasions. One nest was at the side of the rockery and included a section of honeycomb; another was under a small porch, which made going in and out rather hazardous.....

[derbex]

Thanks all, didn't notice them so much last time I was there, but I wasn't particularly looking. More investigation today as it's where I want to put Phil's comfrey, it's got to come out of it's pot now.

Jeremy

[Lily]

I had bumble bees in my lidded plastic compost bin.  I left them there 'till I was sure they had gone.   I think Bumble Bees are protect aren't they?

[redimp]

If they are not they should be.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They are to a degree. We have a crazy situation where you can legally exterminate a nest, but you can't legally move it. It's obviously far better to move it than kill the bees.

[Yellow Petals]

We had bumble bees nesting on the ground in our garden about three years ago.  I'd gone a bit made and hacked up loads of plants/bushes and cut the grass right down & just thrown it all into a pile in the corner, under the kitchen window.  Well, being the lazy so and so that I am, it was left for months and months until one day the mulched little heap (about shin height by this time) was buzzing!  The whole thing!  I hated it.  It's not that I hate bees, but they do make me nervous (as do wasps)

I steered clear of it until my husband went out and took a fork and shovel to it, pulled it apart and destroyed it.  There was actual honeycombe in the centre, those bees were well established! 

Makes me shudder even now when I think about it.

[Juliet]

Hi Jeremy,

You might like to have a look at: http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Leaflets/bees.htm - a page on the Essex wildlife trust website which tells you (among other things) how to move a bees nest you find in your compost heap!  I would think they (or your local wildlife trust) would be the best people to answer the question about the comfrey.  I used to have mining bees nesting in a flowerbed - weeded around them sometimes but didn't try planting there.  They (& bumblebees) are very gentle & extremely unlikely to sting.

Some bees are indeed protected species, so if you don't fancy moving the nest yourself & don't want it there, please don't destroy it as this may well be illegal - look in your local phonebook for beekeepers - they should be happy to come & take the nest away for you.

PS I like the peng... sorry, camel ;).