Honey bee nest

I have an area of very overgrown shrubbery, mostly evergreens. There's a nest of either bees or wasps in there somewhere because I disturbed them this afternoon when I was sawing some of the outer branches off.

I think they're honeybees; I got out of there fast but I don't think they're wasps. If they are wasps they're not a problem, I can wait until late autumn before I tackle that bit again. If they're honeybees, what do I do about them? The garden has to be cleared, it's unmanageable as it is. Do honeybees overwinter in the nest? Do they only nest in trees or on/in the ground? They're well sheltered where they are. If they're honeybees, what do I do about them?

Advice on when and how to get rid of them would be appreciated, please. I know they're good creatures, but I want my garden back.

Thank you.

 

If they're bees Amasis phone the Council. They will put you in touch with a beekeeper who will come and take them away for you. The beekeeper shouldn't charge you as he gets the free bees.

 

That's useful information Alice. I know that if you relocate them, you need to keep them inside the hive for a few days at least, and they need to be far away enough from their old spot that they cannot see it - as otherwise they will go back to the old spot looking for the hive.

 

I rekon they are wasps, if they were bees you would have seen a proper swarm huddled together and heard them. With a bee swarm they wouldnt be a problem as they move off after a day or so. Bee swarms only alight on trees etc for short periods whilst they reegain energy and look for a suitable place to nest.

Honey bees do not nest in the ground or in bushes, common nesing sites are buildings, hollow trees, chimmenys etc.

Personally asuming they are wasps I would destroy them but then again I loath the things and am at risk from an alergic reaction to them.

 

Amasis, why is it, if they are wasps they are not a problem and can be left until the autumn. Yet if they are bees the ground needs to be cleared straight away?

 

I didn't get that either dave, normally its the otherway round atleast. But still.

 

If they're wasps, they'll vacate the nest in the autumn and the problem will go away, wasps don't re-use their nests. I've had small wasps' nest in my loft. If they are wasps I can work on other parts of the garden and go back to that part later.

If they're bees, as I understand it, they overwinter in the nest so they'll need to be removed. It's too overgrown to get close enough to find out exactly where the nest is; it's somewhere in three big evergreens growing into the laurel hedge.

From Pro Gard's post I'm thinking that maybe they are wasps, there's no tree nearby big enough for bee habitat and there are plenty more accessible places to swarm. It was the buzzing that made me notice them; I was inside the 'shrubbery' and it was getting louder quite quickly. I'm allergic to stings, too.

Thank you for the feedback, everyone. Alice, that's interesting about a bee keeper possibly removing bees for free. I suppose with CCD being a problem, the bees have commercial value. I just want them gone. I'll have to try to get a better look... probably buy a butterfly net and catch one. :(

 

...wasps.

I'll work as close as I can get without getting myself stung then leave them until the queen starts hibernation, and tackle the nest then.

I'm retired and have more time than money and there's plenty to do elsewhere. Thank you for your help – this forum is a great place. :lollol:

 

I think we may have bees under our shed.
The last couple of times I have been in there I have noticed a few flying around my feet.
They are Bees light honey colour with a stripe.
Not sure what sort they are or what to do with them.
If it is a nest and the council did come I don't think they could get to them.

 

Lyn, They are either bumble bees or wasps....most unlikely to be honey bees.

I would guess wasps.

If Bumble bees then leave them alone as they are good pollinators. Assuming they are wasps then they would be a straight forward job for a pestcontroler ( acess to the nest is not required to treat)

 

No they are defiantly not wasps we have had wasps nests before.
I have had a good look at these and they are bees.
I'll try and get a photo if it ever stops raining.
They don't bother me, they just come out to have a look when I go into the shed.
And sometimes you can see them around the door.
I did have the intention to clean out the shed but I might just leave it now .
I'm not scared or anything :o :hehe:

 

This is one. It's a Bumble Bee? I think

 

Bumblebees Lyn. Just let them be and they wont bother you.

 

Do Bumble bees nest in the ground? I have found a nest in the barn, they've burrowed into some loose earth/spilled hay. I spent about an hour trying to get a picture of one but every time one started to climb out the nest, I pressed the camera shutter, the thing flew away, then the flash went off :dh:

 

Terrier, they usually do... most often were the soils is quite dry the nest are usually cricket ball sized wads of dried grass with the cells in the middle.