[Darkside]

I saw my first bumblebee today on the winter honeysuckle bush by my
kitchen door. Instead of the usual huge yellow and black queen with a
white tail (Bombus terrestris) it's a ginger and black kind that I've
never seen before. Apparently it's Bombus hypnorum, a species recently
arrived from Europe, and it likes to nest in bird nestboxes.
I've a spare nestbox the birds never use, maybe I'll put it up and see
if any bees move in.
--
Sue ]

[Spider[_3_]]

On 12/02/2011 18:28, Darkside wrote:
I saw my first bumblebee today on the winter honeysuckle bush by my
kitchen door. Instead of the usual huge yellow and black queen with a
white tail (Bombus terrestris) it's a ginger and black kind that I've
never seen before. Apparently it's Bombus hypnorum, a species recently
arrived from Europe, and it likes to nest in bird nestboxes.
I've a spare nestbox the birds never use, maybe I'll put it up and see
if any bees move in.



I saw my first (it was B. terrestris) about three days ago on
Sarcococca. It was such a cheering sight. It may not be spring yet,
but it felt like it that afternoon :~).

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay

[Darkside]

In article , Spider
writes
On 12/02/2011 18:28, Darkside wrote:
I saw my first bumblebee today on the winter honeysuckle bush by my
kitchen door. Instead of the usual huge yellow and black queen with a
white tail (Bombus terrestris) it's a ginger and black kind that I've
never seen before. Apparently it's Bombus hypnorum, a species recently
arrived from Europe, and it likes to nest in bird nestboxes.
I've a spare nestbox the birds never use, maybe I'll put it up and see
if any bees move in.



I saw my first (it was B. terrestris) about three days ago on
Sarcococca. It was such a cheering sight. It may not be spring yet,
but it felt like it that afternoon :~).


It's spring. Today it rained without cease from dawn to dusk.

--
Sue ]