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Several days ago a few hundred bees (too small to qualify as swarm, anyway) arrived in my polytunnel - here in France. It was cool overnight at the time but has warmed up considerably since then. However they have stayed and appear "lost". Is there a way that I can entice them out of the polytunnel and will they simply die when the first frosts arrive? No sign of a queen or scout bees.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Roy

Don't some of the solitary bees cluster to hibernate?.... though it's a bit early for that.....

sounds like a small  swarm, or a secondary 'cast'
stick an old wine box in the polytunnel, on a board floor, with a board lid on it.
drill a small (1/2") hole in one face of the box near to bottom edge. they might move in!!

Thanks Tonybloke - it seems that they have gone into the box. Should I just tape up the hole and put the box a long way off near some flowers and then remove the tape?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks again.

Roy

Quote from: royforster on October 07, 2010, 13:44:00
Thanks Tonybloke - it seems that they have gone into the box. Should I just tape up the hole and put the box a long way off near some flowers and then remove the tape?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks again.

Roy

where in the Uk are you? If you contact your local beekeeping association, they'll send a beekeeper round to collect them for you!!

I'm in France, Tonybloke and don't know any local beekeepers. Any other suggestions, please?

Thanks

Roy

where in france? I'm in contact (via a beekeeping forum) with several beekeepers in france!!


p.m. me, not on open forum if you like