Bumble bees

[Paddington]

I'm getting bumble bees in the workshop, what is attracting them ? The smell of oil or solvents or bright colours on tools ? They're not as troublesome as wasps, but everytime I reach out for a pair of pliers or screwdriver there seems to be a bee trying to get pollen from it.

 

[neilo]

Have you left the lid off the marmalade?

 

[Kidds]

I always assumed they were looking for nesting sites or actually had one nearby.

 

[Kevtherev]

Probably got a hangover seen as it’s Sunday
(The bees)

 

[ollie989898]

I'm getting bumble bees in the workshop, what is attracting them ? The smell of oil or solvents or bright colours on tools ? They're not as troublesome as wasps, but everytime I reach out for a pair of pliers or screwdriver there seems to be a bee trying to get pollen from it.

They do seem a bit thick this time of year, probably hungry and it's not that warm at times so they are a bit sleepy.

 

[DrWazzock]

I’ve left the veg plot a bit late this year. Covered in red dead nettles with the purple flowers. Swarming with bumble bees so leaving them as it’s nice to see. Should I not bother mowing the orchard grass around it as well and leave it tussocky? I think I might. Homes for bees and it will save petrol, pushing Putin that tiny bit closer to the edge!! Win win.

 

[ollie989898]

I’ve left the veg plot a bit late this year. Covered in red dead nettles with the purple flowers. Swarming with bumble bees so leaving them as it’s nice to see. Should I not bother mowing the orchard grass around it as well and leave it tussocky? I think I might. Homes for bees and it will save petrol, pushing Putin that tiny bit closer to the edge!! Win win.

I foolishly agreed with the wife to leave a patch of lawn unmowed last year. Never again. The sweat it took to bring it back under control at the end of last year was off the scale. It's back looking none the worse for it's adventure now but I won't leave anything unmown again. Within seconds it will be anthills and you will have to strim it down again and again to get it looking sensible.

 

[DrWazzock]

I foolishly agreed with the wife to leave a patch of lawn unmowed last year. Never again. The sweat it took to bring it back under control at the end of last year was off the scale. It's back looking none the worse for it's adventure now but I won't leave anything unmown again. Within seconds it will be anthills and you will have to strim it down again and again to get it looking sensible.

Yes we always used to wait for a crop of hay then hand scythe it years ago around the apple trees. A sweltering job for a couple of small bales but only done once not every week. It just grieves me to be spending on petrol and lots of wildlife like these untidy bits.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Probably have a successful nest somewhere nearby.

We moved some hardcore, not seeing anything of interest prior to said move.

There was an absolutely massive bumble bee nest inside - probably a foot square. Never seen anything like it. Covered it back up as best we could. Didn't know bumble bees liked hardcore to live in.

 

[steveR]

Fair few BB about.

But also seeing either mega early wasps, or hornets about. Big scarey sods in the house

 

[thorpe]

loads of insects around at the moment bees of all sorts, never seen a bee fly before, lots of differant wasps, and butterflies every where! oh and swallows arrived yesterday.

 

[ollie989898]

Yes we always used to wait for a crop of hay then hand scythe it years ago around the apple trees. A sweltering job for a couple of small bales but only done once not every week. It just grieves me to be spending on petrol and lots of wildlife like these untidy bits.

But burning petrol is good- it gives you more grass volume to put on the composter.

 

[MontyK]

Wasp were attracted to the smell of cooling fluid for the band saw where i used to work, mainly early summer.

 

[Badshot]

Seeing loads of bumblebees right out in my fields as I'm DD linseed into covers, there's no flowers except the odd dandelion. I assume they're looking for nest sites.

 

[texelburger]

loads of insects around at the moment bees of all sorts, never seen a bee fly before, lots of differant wasps, and butterflies every where! oh and swallows arrived yesterday.

Same here, no swallows yet but a plethora of bees and insects around.Lots of Queen wasps in the house during late winter early spring ,haven’t a clue where they were coming from.

 

[Bumble Bee]

I also seem to be spending far too much time in the workshop.