Bees

[Kenny]

We appear to have some bees lodging in a gap between our roof tiles and the corner of a wooden window frame.  As the latter is our bedroom window, we are apprehensive about leaving the window open during the day or overnight.  The bees are medium to large (definitely smaller than a hornet and a bit smaller than a bumble-bee) and are predominantly black with less colour than traditional bees or wasps.  They appear to be not as numerous as bees I have seen swarming about other nests and, so far, have not been hostile or aggressive (but can be heard buzzing for a while after we draw our curtains or cause any vibration near the window frame in question).
Any ideas or thoughts about what, if anything, I should do would be appreciated.  For example, if left alone will they eventually vacate the nest and not return?  Treating or destroying the nest may also be difficult as it is not visible from either inside the loft area or from outdoors.
Ken

[Judie]

We came back from a few days away some years ago to find that some smallish bees had made their nest between the stone join with the columbage by our front door. I would have loved to leave them, but they were managing to get inside and it was almost impossible to get in through the front door, so unfortunately we had to call in a company to destroy them. It was all done within 10 minutes and cost in the region of 100 euros.

[Stocky]

Kenny,

I used to be a Beekeeper in the UK and generaly they are not a problem and only sting when angered.  It appears that a swarm has decided that they have found a good place to start a new hive.  Problem is that to get rid of them you will have to spray the nest, if you can find it.  Best done at night when all the active bees have returned to their nest.  Once the Queen is dead the hive will die.

My advice is to see if there is a local Bee Keeper and see if he can remove them then he will be able to use them.  Bees are essential for polinating fruit and some vegetables so it would be terrible to kill them all.

Ian

[Kenny]

Thanks Judie & Stocky for your replies.
I'm still in a quandary about what to do. One major difficulty is that we can't see the nest, so removing it is going to be difficult to say the least.  But I am apprehensive about having them so near our living quarters and a window which we often like to have open.  Also, I understand that these plus more bees are likely to return to the same nest, particularly if honey is left there.  Do you know if the professionals simply set a poison near the entrance or do they have to be able to phyisically remove the nest?
Having looked at various internet sites, I have not been able to identify the type of bees for certain.  However, I don't think they are the honey bees seen on a recent TV programme, which were smaller and less "colourful" than I always imagined.  The ones that have adopted our house are quite large, appear to be furry like a bumble bee but are  predominantly black and with a small white bottom (don't they sound cute)!  I understand that their furry appearance would suggest a bumble bee of some kind but I have read that these tend to nest at ground level (again a surprise).
Bees are fascinating insects but....................


Ken

[Stocky]

The professionals would gas them, they would only collect a swarm that was out in the open and with the queen.  We had a swarm in a house we were selling in Hampshire after we had moved to Suffolk, they were then gassed and we were left with the problem of disposing of thousands of dead bees.  The numbers will expand due to their own eggs hatching, not by other bees joining.  They will not move away but keep with the queen although numbers will die down in the winter.

As good as all insects are for polination, when they are in the wrong place.  If you can find where the bees are entering and can get near the nest then late at night give it a spray.

[Maggiem]

Phew, I'm back - small grandson having deleted all of my passwords, I'd forgotten most of them, and couldn't get into this site!

Could they be masonry bees? Despite their alarming name, they don't harm the building, and are now comparatively rare. Depending on where you are, if you can't get a local beekeeper, we're coming over on 16th and I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind looking at them. I also know of a couple of beekeepers in the Normandie area, so PM me if you would like details.

Maggie

[Kenny]

Many thanks for your kind offer Maggie and for your interest - I shall reply by Email direct. 
I'm not sure if they are masonry bees - do they have furry bodies like bumble bees?  I had the impression from looking at stuff on the Internet that they had smoother bodies more like a wasp but rounder in shape.
Ken 

[Kenny]

Sad news really. The bees have turned out to be what I have always called "bumble bees".  However, there numbers appeared to be growing and although not aggressive, we decided they were too near our bedroom window (which has often been left fully open in the recent hot weather) and we decided to call in a 'professional' to dispose of them.  I'm not happy about doing that but .................
We now seem to have a fouine about the gardens on a regular basis but so far it has not come in to the attic.  I have been checking for access places but really given the age of the place and type of construction it is a bit of an impossible task.  Does anyone know what size gap they need please to gain access?  I'm aware they are about 50cm long and can weigh up to around 1.5kg but have no idea of their girth!

[Dick Smith]

Fouines seem to be able to get through very small gaps. Even when a builder claims to have sealed your loft.
The other things I know about them are that they crap a lot and it smells very bad, and when they die they stink...

But they are very pretty.

[Maggiem]

What a shame about the bumble bees! They really aren't aggressive and to have any living near you, given their scarcity, is a privilege, as they are just so fascinating to watch. I'm surprised that the expert was happy to destroy them.

We had fouines running through our attics for some years until Richard filled in the gaps under the eaves with chicken wire crammed full of cement. This also had the advantage of reducing draughts, whilst still allowing adequate ventilation.

[Kenny]

 
Maggie
Does Richard recall what size these gaps were?  I have done some similar work but not all my roof space is accessible.  From what I can see, however, the gaps between any roof timber and the stone walls appear pretty small (about 1.5 to 2 inches max).  I suppose tha Fouine can flatten themselves much like mice but even then I would have thought they might struggle. 
On a brighter note, there ae still plenty of bees, including bumble bees, enjoying our garden and giving us pleasure.

Ken