We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
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tracyp
Caryll
Lorraine
Eleanor
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We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:34 am
There's an insect nest hanging up. A few weeks ago, shredded leaves mysteriously started appearing in the holes as plugs. Then, about a week later, I was putting a rubbish bag out in the garden and I saw a honey bee fly into one of the holes with a big piece of leaf! 
And I would like to point out that I feel very special and smug, as I was the first one to notice! Mwuhahaha! 
It's a very small hive. Like this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510u%2B7vrrOL._SX300_.jpg
Only with shredded leaves plugging most of the holes!
I won't be as happy if the swarm gets too much bigger, but I think (hope) that's very unlikely. Bit sad, really, as they probably won't survive long without proper beekeeping - which I'm definitely not going to do! I wouldn't have a clue! Probably for the best, though, as we'd otherwise have to call in a beekeeper to move the hive. I think it's just a temporary swarm anyway, while they look for a proper home.
And I would like to point out that I feel very special and smug, as I was the first one to notice! Mwuhahaha! It's a very small hive. Like this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510u%2B7vrrOL._SX300_.jpg
Only with shredded leaves plugging most of the holes!
I won't be as happy if the swarm gets too much bigger, but I think (hope) that's very unlikely. Bit sad, really, as they probably won't survive long without proper beekeeping - which I'm definitely not going to do! I wouldn't have a clue! Probably for the best, though, as we'd otherwise have to call in a beekeeper to move the hive. I think it's just a temporary swarm anyway, while they look for a proper home.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:42 am
Scratch that. Just did some research. They're not honey bees; it's a leaf-cutter bee. Clue's in the name, really! 
Woops!
Also explains why a nearby plant has dozens of holes cut out of the leaves!
I was looking for caterpillars!
They're harmless, apparently, although I still don't want to be stung by one.
Here it is!
Woops!Also explains why a nearby plant has dozens of holes cut out of the leaves!
I was looking for caterpillars! They're harmless, apparently, although I still don't want to be stung by one.
Here it is!
Last edited by Eleanor on Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:49 am; edited 1 time in total
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Lorraine Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:44 am
I think they'll be leaf-cutter bees - if you've got roses in the garden take a look at the leaves, you may find little semi-circular cut-outs on the edges.
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&es_th=1&ie=UTF-8#q=leaf-cutter%20bee
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&es_th=1&ie=UTF-8#q=leaf-cutter%20bee
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:54 am
I don't know if I've heard of leaf cutter bees before. I daresay I've probably heard of them somewhere, but I can't remember. Google is telling me a lot though!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Lorraine Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:56 am
I hadn't heard of them before last year, when they took up residence in our insect nest box. 
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:57 am
Did they wreak havoc on your plants? Mum's got two roses near the insect box. So far untouched, unlike the large plant right next to the box, but for how long..?
Mum's got two roses near the insect box. So far untouched, unlike the large plant right next to the box, but for how long..?
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:11 am
Has anybody here been stung by a bee or wasp, by the way? Not worried I'm going to get stung or anything, as I don't plan on disturbing the nest, but I've never been stung before. I've heard some people say it hurts a lot, but others have said it hardly hurts at all. 
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Lorraine Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:14 am
Eleanor wrote:Did they wreak havoc on your plants?
Tristan wreaked havoc on our garden - a few small bees are nothing!!
In answer to your other question - never been stung.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:23 am
Bless him! He was helping with gardening, was he? Oh, so I'm not the only one!
Was beginning to think bees and wasps just didn't like me enough to bother!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Caryll Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:37 am
I've been stung by a wasp but not by a bee.
Painful, but funnily enough not such a problem as midge bites!
Painful, but funnily enough not such a problem as midge bites!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:06 pm
The midges seem to love you!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by tracyp Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:24 pm
Ive been stung & I'm allergic to them. Not a great experience.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Caroline Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:49 pm
I've never heard of leaf cutter bees. I learned something new today
I've never been stung either and after seeing how Millie was last year when a b@#$*&! Wasp clung on to her paw stinging her I don't want to be
I've never been stung either and after seeing how Millie was last year when a b@#$*&! Wasp clung on to her paw stinging her I don't want to be
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Shisa Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:19 pm
I've been stung a few times. It hurts but not to cry over. You just need to take the stinger out properly and not inject more venom into yourself.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Caryll Fri Jul 25, 2014 2:28 pm
It must be scary if you're allergic to them!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 4:20 pm
Must be frightening if you're allergic!
I used to have a sort-of phobia of wasps. I think it was from childhood; when wasps buzzed around my head if I had a sugary snack like ice cream, I'd be able to hear them and feel the vibrations, but wouldn't be able to see them or get away from them. I think that's what scared me originally. I've never actually been scared of getting stung.
Got over that though. Still a little wary of wasps, but I suppose that's to be expected and will fade over time. Bees I'm absolutely fine with!
I used to have a sort-of phobia of wasps. I think it was from childhood; when wasps buzzed around my head if I had a sugary snack like ice cream, I'd be able to hear them and feel the vibrations, but wouldn't be able to see them or get away from them. I think that's what scared me originally. I've never actually been scared of getting stung.
Got over that though.
Still a little wary of wasps, but I suppose that's to be expected and will fade over time. Bees I'm absolutely fine with!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by tracyp Fri Jul 25, 2014 4:49 pm
Scary.... you just get a swollen oesophagus. Ok if you don't like air.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by LyndaW Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:43 pm
Leaf-cutter bees - they wreak havoc in my garden every year by cutting holes in my rose leaves. Don't know where they nest though, or whether they sting.
I got stung by a bee once when I was a child and foolishly tried to catch it in a jam jar. It left its sting behind (so it would have died). I'm not scared of bees, though I did get a bit apprehensive when a swarm investigated a hole in my neighbour's wall - fortunately the hole couldn't have been their idea of home sweet home as they all flew off after a couple of days. Usually, I have found bees to be non-aggressive towards me.
Unlike wasps, they hate me for some reason and I have been stung many times - sometimes without any provocation whatsoever "that's a nice leg - I'll sting it". I always carry a tube of anti-histamine cream with me, because although I have come across people who say it doesn't hurt much, it hurts me A LOT. Maybe I'm just a wuss.
I got stung by a bee once when I was a child and foolishly tried to catch it in a jam jar. It left its sting behind (so it would have died). I'm not scared of bees, though I did get a bit apprehensive when a swarm investigated a hole in my neighbour's wall - fortunately the hole couldn't have been their idea of home sweet home as they all flew off after a couple of days. Usually, I have found bees to be non-aggressive towards me.
Unlike wasps, they hate me for some reason and I have been stung many times - sometimes without any provocation whatsoever "that's a nice leg - I'll sting it". I always carry a tube of anti-histamine cream with me, because although I have come across people who say it doesn't hurt much, it hurts me A LOT. Maybe I'm just a wuss.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:08 pm
Do you have to carry an epi-pen, Tracy? Think I might have asked this before, but I'm not sure.
We've been lucky - this bee hasn't touched the roses! I was watching it sawing away at a leaf earlier! Incredible Sorry about your roses though 
I've never actually seen a swarm close up! Would love to (from a safe place)
Poor you. I think pain is relative, so each person feels a different amount. Maybe some people are more/less sensitive to it?
I'm strange with pain. I've had my fingers trapped underneath a giant tortoise's shell and felt/heard them crack, and didn't shed a tear! If Dempsey accidentally catches my hand with his teeth when he's playing though, the lip starts to wobble and the eyes start watering!
We've been lucky - this bee hasn't touched the roses! I was watching it sawing away at a leaf earlier! Incredible
Sorry about your roses though I've never actually seen a swarm close up! Would love to (from a safe place
) Poor you. I think pain is relative, so each person feels a different amount. Maybe some people are more/less sensitive to it? I'm strange with pain. I've had my fingers trapped underneath a giant tortoise's shell and felt/heard them crack, and didn't shed a tear! If Dempsey accidentally catches my hand with his teeth when he's playing though, the lip starts to wobble and the eyes start watering!
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Lynne Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:25 pm
When I was about 5 I disturb a wasp nest and was stung so many times I was taken to hospital can't remember it though.
Was stung by a bee on the tube and had to pretend it hadn't got me cause everyone was looking but it hurt like hell xx
Was stung by a bee on the tube and had to pretend it hadn't got me cause everyone was looking but it hurt like hell xx
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Caryll Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:25 pm
tracyp wrote:Scary.... you just get a swollen oesophagus. Ok if you don't like air.
LyndaW wrote:Leaf-cutter bees - they wreak havoc in my garden every year by cutting holes in my rose leaves. Don't know where they nest though, or whether they sting.
I think they normally nest in holes, so wood, bricks, even the ground probably!
LyndaW wrote:
Unlike wasps, they hate me for some reason and I have been stung many times - sometimes without any provocation whatsoever "that's a nice leg - I'll sting it". I always carry a tube of anti-histamine cream with me, because although I have come across people who say it doesn't hurt much, it hurts me A LOT. Maybe I'm just a wuss.
It DOES hurt! Luckily, whenever I've been stung the pain hasn't lasted too long, but it certainly does hurt!
Lynne wrote:When I was about 5 I disturb a wasp nest and was stung so many times I was taken to hospital can't remember it though.
Ouch, I can't imagine what that must have been like!
Lynne wrote:Was stung by a bee on the tube and had to pretend it hadn't got me cause everyone was looking but it hurt like hell xx
Yes, I suppose it'd look a bit weird screaming & crying on a tube - although if you'd done that you'd have probably cleared the carriage at the next station!
I've only ever seen one swarm of bees and that was by a river when we were taking Bandit for a walk. The swarm was covering the top of a fence post, and Bandit got too near it. All of a sudden it just detached itself from the post & few at poor Bandit! I quickly threw Bandit into the river (it wasn't very deep) and we legged it! Poor dog got stung several times & he was quite shocked by it.
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by Eleanor Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:40 pm
Yikes! I bet you're glad you don't remember that!
Poor Bandit
Poor Bandit
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Re: We have a honey bee hive in our garden!
by tracyp Sat Jul 26, 2014 4:50 am
No, you havent asked. I dont carry one. If I get stung I have 30 mins till my throat swells. So I'm ok.Eleanor wrote:Do you have to carry an epi-pen, Tracy? Think I might have asked this before, but I'm not sure.
My sister was stung on her larynx as a child. (She was wearing a yellow daisy skivvy.) Though not allergic to bees, to this day she will run at the meer sight of them.
My sis inlaws dad keeps bees. I tremble everytime I go to his house.
Last edited by tracyp on Sat Jul 26, 2014 4:58 am; edited 1 time in total
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