Bees nest

[Heko]

We have had some bees setup home underneath some roof tiles of our bungalow. From what I can tell, they are tree bumble bees, and they have been there just over a week.

I've just had a complaint from our neighbour who has said that bees are going into there house and they're worried about their sick mother getting stung, and that I should be making arrangements to get the nest "sorted".

Personally, I'm quite happy to leave the bees alone, and being the type of bees they are, beekeepers are not interested in removing them, which would mean I would need to pay a pest controller to kill them, and a roofer to supply access to the bees and put right any damage.

Aibu to just leave them and that bees entering a house is just normal?

We have a honey bee swarm in the garden that the beekeepers association rehomed for us. Have you spoken to them.

@HappyHammy

We have a honey bee swarm in the garden that the beekeepers association rehomed for us. Have you spoken to them.

They're tree bumblebees, so beekeepers aren't interested

can you call any local bee keepers? they might have some ideas or be able to move the hive somewhere else.

I would leave them alone too

As long as the neighbours aren’t being aggressive towards wandering bees, they will leave them all alone.

bpca.org.uk/pest-aware/Page-2/bee-control-how-to-get-rid-of-bees-bpca-a-z-of-pests/189185

Yep, tree bees I’d just leave alone

I would leave them, they are not aggressive and they are pollinators.

Have people completely given up on reading the OP? Beekeepers will not take none-honey bees!

I would leave them bee (sorry). I think it's irresponsible to disturb/kill bees. A beesting is not the end of the world, even if you are elderly! (Unless allergic? But they don't say that). If they are so bothered they can keep their windows closed.

Bumblebees don't reuse their old nests, so its only for a few more months. Let them be, and they wont return to that nest next year.

They may well be a protected species, in which case you can't kill them.

Tree bees are not aggressive. If they are buzzing around it generally means that will soon move on (this is the peak of their activity, people only notice them when they are starting to decline). They usually move on end of June/July

Why not print out this FAQ for your neighbour (bumblebee conservation website)

FAQ BumblebeeConservation

We love our tree bees, they nest in a different dormer window every year. We were worried they hadn’t started showing up this year, but they began buzzing last week in DD’s en suite bathroom’s dormer. She likes to keep the window open so she can hear and see them, and they do not give her any bother. A few have flown inside, but she’s gently guided them back out again. DS is annoyed they have not renested above his bedroom window, he liked to listen to them talking to each other on a night.

They will not give you or your neighbour any bother and it would be a great shame to get rid of them. They will be very busy for about 2 months and then will go as suddenly as they arrived, and if you are lucky and they’ve made a good queen they will return next year. Please don’t get rid of them.

www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebee-nests/

This seems to suggest that they might move if you provide a new nesting spot.

Sorry but that would be a 'no' from me. Bee populations are plummeting and the only time I can recall being stung by a bee was about 65 years ago, only because I tried to pick it up. Bees aren't wasps who sting far more frequently.