Bumble Bees

Reel_Big_Fish · 06-28-2006, 02:15 PM

Anyone have experience with bumble bees? We found a nest at my mom's house in the ground near her front porch. You can't even go in the front door today because there are probably 30-50 bees flying around.

Anyone have any ideas to get rid of them?

Cool Texan · 06-28-2006, 02:29 PM

I think at night they will all be in there resting...that's the time to nail them with spray.

Bill Monroe · 06-28-2006, 02:31 PM

Bumble bees are terrific pollinators and rarely cause trouble. Nothing to fear. Why kill them?

Bonita · 06-28-2006, 02:51 PM

Are you sure they're bumble bees? If so, you could hire a bee guy to come get them and re-locate them. Look in your yellow pages under 'pest control' probably.
But, if they're yellow jackets or some other more aggresive bee I'd wait for it to cool off and get dark and then fill the nest with raid or something similar.

Just_learning · 06-28-2006, 03:14 PM

lesson 1- dont spray it with a hose.
lesson 2- dont poke it with a stick
lesson 3- definatley dont kick it.

Its been said before, just wait until night time and unload a can of RAID into it.

Chrome Bumper · 06-28-2006, 03:18 PM

30-50 bumble bees? Sounds more like yellow jackets, get wasp killer spray them fast at night, and run Forrest run.

Honey bees people will pick up for free, bumble bees are not agressive.

ajfishfinder · 06-28-2006, 03:28 PM

Just dump a handful of moth balls down the hole and they won't come back.

ICHTHYDEMON · 06-28-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

bumble bees are not agressive.

Maybe not on average,but trust me they can get nasty.

We were ridding my Dads yard of some Ivy last Summer and stumbled onto a nest of bumble bees. The nest was inside a 4" diameter piece of pipe that was buried in the Ivy. We could here an odd buzzing sound and all of a sudden about 100 bumble bees came pouring out of the pipe and started swarming all around us. We didn't stick around long enough to see just how mad they were,but they made their point.

8-guage · 06-28-2006, 09:27 PM

"We didn't stick around long enough to see just how mad they were,but they made their point."
Yes, and if they were wasps or especially hornets, you would't be telling the story the same way. Hornets wouldn't have let you escape with out a few nasty ZAPS first.
Yes, if they are honey or bumble bees, try to get someone to remove them because of their desperately needed polinating abilities.

Hare's Ear · 06-28-2006, 09:47 PM

If it weren't for bumble bees I wouldn't have any blueberries. Be nice to them and try to have them relocated.

TheKing · 06-29-2006, 07:21 AM

I love bumble bees and have 6 or 7 types at my place. I keep bees as well. That being said if they are a disruption to your life like blocking the front door you may have to do something. For bees in the ground mix dishsoap in a bucket of water and pour down the hole just before dark when all of them are home. Place the bucket oever the hole and wait until the next AM. The bees will crawl out of the hole with soapy wings in the AM to try and dry them in the sun. You can stomp them or give them a shot of your pesticide du jour and that will be it.

Reel_Big_Fish · 06-29-2006, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Bumble bees are terrific pollinators and rarely cause trouble. Nothing to fear. Why kill them?

Because they are underneath the front porch and you can't use the front door. My mom runs a daycare, so it's necessary with children around.

Quote:

Are you sure they're bumble bees?

Yes they are bumble bee's, I've looked up information about them. I don't believe they can be relocated as they are underground and under a concrete porch.

Quote:

lesson 1- dont spray it with a hose.
lesson 2- dont poke it with a stick
lesson 3- definatley dont kick it.

Its been said before, just wait until night time and unload a can of RAID into it.

As I said above, everything is underground.

Quote:

30-50 bumble bees? Sounds more like yellow jackets, get wasp killer spray them fast at night, and run Forrest run.

Honey bees people will pick up for free, bumble bees are not agressive.

Nope, these are bumble bee's. Bumble are agressive, but only if they feel their nest is threatened.

~~~~~~

Thanks everyone for the information. A pest control company is going to be called today.

Chrome Bumper · 06-29-2006, 11:59 AM

Ya didn't mention the daycare.

I assume you can wet down the opening with wasp killer in the 20 ft spay can. Spray the hole good at night with wasp killer.

Have a spare can and if any survive till the next night hit them again.

Unlucky choice of a place to build a nest.

fishlipper · 06-29-2006, 12:55 PM

Kids please turn the channel. Take a can of aeresol hair spray and a lighter and get after them. It is much more fun than a can of raid. Although, I wonder if you could use an aerosol can of raid instead of hairspray......

2percentmilt · 06-29-2006, 01:43 PM

Great. That's all you need is flying bees that sting and burn ya.

Chrome Bumper · 06-29-2006, 01:50 PM

Shooting a flame thrower under the porch might void yer fire insurance.

And fire season has begun.

Reel_Big_Fish · 06-29-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Unlucky choice of a place to build a nest.

Exactly! I would just let them bee (pun intended) :tongue: if they were somewhere else in the yard.

MattPark · 06-29-2006, 05:02 PM

Charcoal lighter fluid kills bees faster than any of the *** bee sprays out there. They stop, drop and die the instant it touches them.

Reel_Big_Fish · 06-30-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Charcoal lighter fluid kills bees faster than any of the *** bee sprays out there. They stop, drop and die the instant it touches them.

We've thought about that. But with it being underground and not knowing exactly how large it is, it's kinda scaring putting fire that close to the house.

lost_sailor · 06-30-2006, 01:14 PM

Bumblebees won't bother you unless you attack their home!

I got stung by one on a rafting trip last summer (totally my fault, waved at it with my hat and got it stuck in my PFD) man that hurt - and swelled up and itched for a week or so.